NAGPUR, India, Feb 6, 2010 (AFP) - Jacques Kallis hit his 34th century to guide South Africa to 193-2 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against India on Saturday.

The dashing right-hander hit 11 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 120-run knock to pull the tourists out of early trouble at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur. Kallis, 34, dominated a 187-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket with Hashim Amla, who was batting on 60 with five fours off 147 balls. Kallis, who hit two centuries in the recent drawn Test series against England at home, reached the 100-run mark with a single through the slips off Harbhajan Singh.

The South African is now joint third on the all-time list of top century getters, along with former batsmen Sunil Gavaskar of India and West Indian Brian Lara.

India's Sachin Tendulkar heads the list with 45 centuries, followed by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on 39.