Smith, McKenzie give South African cricketers solid start

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

CHENNAI, India (AFP) — Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie continued their brilliant form to hand South Africa an impressive start in the first cricket Test against India here on Wednesday.

The openers batted through the morning session of the first day to put on 109 by lunch at the Chidambaram stadium after Smith won the toss and took first strike on a placid wicket.

Smith was unbeaten on 53 and McKenzie was on 54 in their first outing since compiling a world record opening partnership of 415 against Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier this month.

McKenzie was the more aggressive of the two, smashing 11 boundaries to his captain's eight as the Indian bowlers struggled in the hot and humid weather.

The duo flayed the Indian seam attack of Rudra Pratap Singh...