Hashim Amla posted 159 as South Africa reached an imposing first-innings total of 540 on day two of the first Test against India.
The number three batsman hit 19 fours in his 248-ball innings before being smartly run out by Shanthakumaran Sreesanth following an attempted quick single.
Mark Boucher scored 70 - his 28th Test half century - before top-edging an attempted sweep which skied to Rahul Dravid, and Morne Morkel added 35 before being caught and bowled by Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan then took the remaining two wickets of Paul Harris (5) and Dale Steyn (15) but by then the Proteas had reached a huge total.
India saw out the remaining 25 overs of the day and finished on 82 without loss with openers Virender Sehwag (52 not out) and Wasim Jaffer (25no) looking in fine touch.
Having started the day on 304 for four, South Africa lost just one wicket in the morning session when AB de Villiers edged Sreesanth behind to a diving Mahendra Singh Dhoni, six runs short of his half century.
He and Amla had racked up 49 runs from the previous seven overs so India were relieved to finally make the breakthrough.
They were forced to wait a long time before the next wicket however, as Amla and Boucher capitalised on some below-par bowling for almost 30 overs until some poor communication led to the former being run out.
Boucher cut a shortish Anil Kumble delivery off the back foot and Amla set off from the non-striker's end. Boucher hesitated before sending his partner back but India reacted quickly and Kumble whipped off the bails with Amla stranded.
Having been 501 for six at tea, the Proteas were dismissed for 540 but the relative ease with which the tail was dispatched will not dampen South Africa's spirits after a dominating batting display.
India showed they were not the only ones who could capitalise on the batting-friendly wicket and notched 82 at a rate of 3.9 runs an over by the close of play.
Sehwag reached his 14th Test 50 in the final over before stumps, rocking back to punch Steyn through the covers for two.
His polished half-century included six fours and a huge six off Makhaya Ntini in the first over of India's innings.
The paceman was also hit into the crowd by Jaffer, who upper cut a short, wide ball over the third man boundary in the sixth over.
The hosts will hope to continue in this vein on Friday if they are to significantly reduce the 458-run deficit.
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