A late blow by South African paceman Makhaya Ntini set India back after the batsmen had fought hard to finish the first day on 156 for five in the first Test at Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
After India were reduced to 19 for two, veterans Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid built a partnership of 69 runs to steer the team out of the most fragile phase. Tendulkar went past a personal milestone of 10,500 runs during his innings of 44 while Dravid made 32 in 83 balls.
Sourav Ganguly did not disappoint in his much-awaited return to Test cricket as he battled the South African pace attack and was involved in a 46-run stand with VVS Laxman.
Ntini claimed the wicket of Laxman (28) late in the day to pull back the advantage for his team.
Jacques Kallis took the all-important wickets of Tendulkar and Dravid while Shaun Pollock, four wickets away from a tally of 400 Test wickets, was the pick of the bowlers though he had only one wicket to show for his effort
Morning session:
Surprisingly, South Africa decided to open the bowling with Dale Steyn. The 23-year-old had caused much damage (5 for 22) during India's opening match on the tour, playing for South Africa A, which the visitors lost by 37 runs.
But Steyn, who has played only eight Test matches over two years, failed to make use of the early conditions and was carried away by the bounce at the Wanderers. An hour's delay had dried most of the moisture of the wicket and the ball was often pitched too wide and short to bother the Indian batsmen.
India's first run came in the fourth over as Sehwag knocked the ball to cover off Makhaya Ntini, who bowled with greater zip and purpose.
With Shaun Pollock being introduced into the attack in the seventh over, the bowlers adjusted their length, bowling further up and drawing the batsmen into playing more shots.
Ntini, who gave India some anxious moments angling the ball in the batsmen's body, got the breakthrough for South Africa when he had Jaffer leg before wicket in the tenth over. Pitching the ball on off stump, he got the ball move in and clip the top of Jaffer's pads. Jaffer shouldering arms made it easier for umpire Mark Benson to give the decision in the bowler's favour.
India received a bigger blow when Sehwag departed in the next over, playing at a shorter one away from his body to be caught behind off Pollock.
The South African bowlers, having made the early inroads, pressed for another wicket and pitch was starting to be double-paced as India went into lunch at 19 for 2.
Post-Lunch session:
Dravid kicked off the second session with a cover-drive for four off Pollock, but had to wait for another 27 balls before he added to his score.
The Indian captain along with Tendulkar played out the first-hour judiciously, even though the South African bowlers got the ball to kick up from length. The South African attack, with the exception of Pollock, proved too monotonous to shake the experienced Indian batsmen.
Tendulkar, though circumspect, worked the ball through the leg-side and kept the scoreboard ticking.
His innings was a good mix of caution and aggression; maintained a scoring rate of around 50 and went on to cross the milestone of 10,500 runs. Tendulkar, who had left the bouncers alone earlier in the innings, sat inside to one from Ntini and guided it over the slips for four to revive memories of India's 2002 South Africa tour.
With the pressure easing off, Dravid also started scoring more freely, and drove the ball through covers for four boundaries.
Though the South Africans bowled under a heavy cloud cover for a better part of the session and were supported with a packed slip-cordon, the Indian duo consciously kept away from touching the balls outside the off-stump.
But Tendulkar fell prey to that old Indian folly after 89 balls, just when he seemed set for a big one. Though Kallis lacked the pace of Andre Nel and Steyn, he got the ball to move away slightly from Tendulkar, inducing a thick edge to second slip on 44.
Tendulkar and Dravid had added some stability to the India effort with a partnership of 69 runs.
Post-Tea session:
India lost the key wicket of Dravid in the second over after resumption.
Dravid, who had played himself in, grinding out 32 runs in 83 balls, was drawn forward by Kallis and got an edge to Graeme Smith in the slips.
The excitement that surrounded Sourav Ganguly much awaited arrival was palpable. The former skipper had almost guaranteed himself a place with the determined 83 against Rest of South Africa in the four-day warm-up match, and his return to Test cricket was much-anticipated. As was the reception with short balls.
A veteran of 88 Tests, Ganguly hit and missed a few, looked awkward facing the bouncers, ignored Andre Nel's snorts but stayed his ground and unleashed those trademark off-drives when the ball was on the hitting zone. He seemed especially uncomfortable facing Nel round the wicket, with the bowler getting the ball move away from him on the rise.
VVS Laxman, at the other end, was creaming the ball through the gaps. The Hyderabadi played positively, despite coming in a tricky situation.
Their partnership was breezy and entertaining, and made the most of an older ball and tiring bowlers.
Laxman, who had started in a flurry of boundaries and neat wristy flicks, was clamped down later as the South African bowlers adjusted their length. The batsman seemed glued to the crease as Pollock got a couple to beat him.
Just when India looked like ending the day on a high, they lost the wicket of Laxman (28) to set back the team's chances on Saturday morning.
Ntini drew Laxman into playing a drive, and the ball caught the shoulder of the bat to hand Mark Boucher another easy catch in the day.
The Indian batsmen accepted bad light and retired for the day immediately after the wicket on 156 for 5 and Ganguly unbeaten on 14 from 42 balls.