By Telford Vice

Wasim Jaffer's third test century anchored India on the first day of the third and final test against South Africa on Tuesday.

Jaffer scored 116 to help guide India, who won the toss and chose to bat, to stumps on 254 for three as they look to clinch a series currently level at 1-1.

Opener Jaffer batted for six hours, faced 244 balls and hit 15 fours before he was out in the fifth over before the close when he edged fast bowler Dale Steyn to second slip, where Jacques Kallis claimed a stinging, head-high catch.

Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik shared a first-wicket stand of 153, India's first century opening partnership in South Africa.

Karthik, who scored 63, offered with the total on 95 when medium pacer Shaun Pollock found the edge only for Graeme Smith at first slip to drop the catch.

The Indian openers were able to settle at their own pace on the flattest pitch of the series, against a South African attack that failed to make them play often enough.

Just eight runs were scored off the first five overs before Jaffer cut fast bowler Makhaya Ntini through third man for four and then drove Ntini's next ball off the back foot through the off-side for another boundary.

THROUGH MID-WICKET

Jaffer stroked India past 50 when he hit Pollock through mid-wicket for four in the seventh over before lunch.

India then reached three figures without loss midway through the second session when Karthik took a leg-bye off Pollock.

Debutant left-arm spinner Paul Harris took his maiden test wicket with the first ball after tea, which Karthik prodded onto his pad and to Hashim Amla at silly point.

India were 202 for two when captain Rahul Dravid pushed forward defensively at a ball from Pollock and edged to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 29.

Sachin Tendulkar was 28 not out at the close with Vangipurappu Laxman on four.

South Africa's Kallis and Steyn returned to action from back and thigh injuries respectively which kept them out of the second test in Durban.

All rounder Andrew Hall and fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Andre Nel, who has a foot injury, missed out.

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni was forced out of India's team with a hand injury and replaced by Karthik, who also displaced the out-of-form Virender Sehwag at the top of the order. Sehwag has been listed to bat at number six.

Fast bowler Munaf Patel, who has been sidelined since injuring an ankle in the second one-day international in Durban in November, won back his place in the team at the expense of Vikram Singh.