South Africa amassed a record 540 runs in their first innings of the first Test against India, but the hosts set the foundations for a solid reply as they made their way to 82 without loss on the second day in Chennai.

Virender Sehwag, Indian opener, smashed a typically aggressive 52 while batting partner Wasim Jaffer chipped in with 25 as the India emerged unscathed from the 21 overs they faced before stumps.

The home side will resume on Friday at the Chidambaram stadium, with their first target being to avoid the follow-on, which is 341 runs.

Hashim Amla, South Africa middle-order batsman, scored 159 to lift the tourists to their highest total in India, surpassing the 510 for 9 declared at Kanpur on their previous tour in 2004.

The Proteas, who began the day at 304 for 4, nearly doubled their score despite a slow over rate of 13 an hour by the Indian bowlers on an unresponsive wicket.

"It was a difficult challenge so I do rate this effort up there with my best." Hashim Amla, South Africa batsman

Amla, 24, hit 20 fours in his fourth Test century, but fell short of his career-best 176 not out against New Zealand in Johannesburg last year.

"These were the hottest conditions I have ever batted in," said Amla.

"It was a difficult challenge so I do rate this effort up there with my best.

"The wicket was too good to bat on, but it is always special to score a century in the subcontinent.

"There is a lot of hard work ahead for the bowlers and we are hoping the wicket will do a bit on the third and fourth day."

Amla's seven-hour innings on the slow wicket ended in an unfortunate run-out midway through the afternoon session, but there was no respite for the tired Indian attack as wicket-keeper Mark Boucher hit 70.

India aim for big total

Boucher, who survived a confident LBW appeal by Shanthakumaran Sreesanth when he was on 10, put on 99 for the sixth wicket with Amla.

Tail-ender Morne Morkel also joined in the run fest, hitting seven boundaries in his 35 during a seventh-wicket stand of 54 with Boucher.

Harbhajan Singh, Indian off-spinner, picked up the last three wickets to earn himself a five-wicket haul, but at a cost of 164 runs from 44.5 overs.

Spin partner Anil Kumble, Indian captain, took 2 for 106 while left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh's 23 wicket-less overs cost 111 runs.

The damage could have been even worse for India, but the tourists, who were 510 for 6 at one stage, lost their last four wickets for 30 runs.

Sehwag said India's aim was to put up a big total over the next two days.

"It will not be easy to bat on the final day, so if we can get a lead of about 100 we can put the South Africans under pressure," he said.

"If the ball is to be hit, I will hit it, but I want to start afresh tomorrow and build a big score.

"It was hard work for our bowlers but Hashim was a surprise. We did not expect him to play the way he did."