Durban – India worked their way to 76 for one at lunch at the start of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, in Durban, on Thursday.
Both sides came into the game looking to clinch the series after the first the two-Test series ended in a draw in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Cheteshwar Pujara (13) and Murali Vijay (33) were both unbeaten at the interval, while Morne Morke returned figures of 1/14 from his seven overs.
Morkel completed a miraculous recovery after being helped off the field with an ankle injury in the first Test six days ago. He provided the breakthrough straight after the drinks break, forcing Shikhar Dhawan (29) into playing a full delivery. The ball took the edge and Dhawan was caught at third slip by Alviro Petersen, leaving India on 41 for one.
Robin Peterson – the only change to the Proteas line-up – filling the holding role in place of Imran Tahir, went for five runs an over from his three.
The Boxing Day Test would be the last for Jacques Kallis as he announced his retirement from the longest format of the game on Wednesday. Kallis led the team on to the field and was greeted by large cheers from the crowd.
The all-rounder ends his Test career at the ground where he made his debut in 1995 against England. – Sapa