NAGPUR, India (AP) - Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla posted centuries and combined for an unbroken 285-run stand to guide South Africa to a powerful 291-2 on the first day of the opening test against India.

Kallis struck 13 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 159, his 34th test century that brought him to No. 3 spot in test cricket’s top century-makers, while Amla was on 115 at the draw of stumps.

The Kallis-Amla partnership is the highest for the third wicket in all tests since the same two batsmen put on 330 versus New Zealand in 2007.

The composed show by this pair revived South Africa after openers Ashwell Prince (0) and Graeme Smith (6) fell cheaply with just six runs on the board.

"It was a good batting track, but the ball did a bit in the first hour and we lost two quick wickets," Kallis said. "Amla and me then built a big partnership. Our plan was to bat through the day. We’ll try to bat as long as possible tomorrow and see how it goes."

Kallis’ hundred brought him at par with former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar and West Indian Brian Lara in the exclusive club of leading century-makers. Topping the list is Sachin Tendulkar of India with 45 centuries and Australian captain Ricky Ponting is in No. 2 spot with 39 hundreds.

"Kallis and Amla batted really well," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "However, the first two sessions tomorrow will be very crucial."

Amla’s knock featured 11 fours.

Batting first after skipper Smith won the toss, South Africa conceded the initial advantage to the hosts as paceman Zaheer Khan struck early to snare Prince and Smith.

Prince was the first to go, trying to evade a bouncer from Khan that lobbed off his gloves to Dhoni in the fifth over.

Khan claimed the prize wicket of Smith two overs later with a fine delivery that swung in sharply and dislodged the stumps.

Amla and Kallis then turned the course of the match in a series that will decide the No. 1 spot in the International Cricket Council’s test rankings.

"They started in a very difficult situation, but they made a fantastic recovery," South Africa batting coach Kepler Wessel said. "Kallis is an experienced player and knows exactly how to play in this situation. He applied himself very well."

An injury-stricken India picked rookie middle-order batsman Subramaniam Badrinath and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha.

They got the chance to make test debuts as V.V.S. Laxman was ruled out by a finger injury while Rohit Sharma twisted an ankle in the morning warmup. India was already without Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Shantakumarn Sreesanth through injury.

G Smith b Khan 6

A Prince c Dhoni b Khan 0

H Amla not out 115

J Kallis not out 159

Extras: (4b, 2lb, 5nb) 11

Overs: 91.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-6.

Did not bat: A.B. de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell.

Bowling: Khan 20-5-67-2 (3nb), Sharma 17-2-44-0, Singh 21-0-81-0, Mishra 26-2-71-0 (2nb), Sehwag 7-1-22-0.

Umpires: Ian Gould, England, and Steve Davis, Australia.

TV Umpire: Amish Saheba, India.