y Telford Vice

DURBAN, South Africa, Nov 23 (Reuters) South Africa earned their biggest win over India after skittling the tourists for 91 in the second one-day international yesterday.

Jacques Kallis' first century in two years, a chanceless 119 not out, anchored South Africa's 248 for eight which they scored after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

In reply, India were dismissed for 91 in 29.1 overs to hand the home side victory by 157 runs and give them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Fast bowler Andre Nel bowled with aggression to take a career-best four for 13 from eight overs.

''Some of our shot selection against the fast bowlers is something we need to look at before we go into the next game,'' Indian captain Rahul Dravid told a news conference.

''It's been agreed that if we want to be competitive in conditions like this then we've got to prepare wickets like this in our domestic tournaments,'' he added, referring to the seamer-friendly pitch.

South Africa's previous biggest win over India was the 80 runs they won by in Sharjah in 1995-96, and India's previous lowest total against South Africa was 147 in Port Elizabeth in 1992-93.

South Africa's win stole the thunder from India's Sachin Tendulkar, who played his 371st one-day international -- a world record.

Kallis last scored a one-day century on August 31, 2004, when he made 101 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

The number three batsman faced 160 balls and hit 15 fours in his Durban innings, which was his first century in 38 one-day internationals and the first of his career against India.

''It wasn't a free-scoring wicket, it needed someone to bat through the innings and for someone to bat around him,'' Kallis said. ''That's what we did. I backed my experience to hang in there, and we made a good score.'' Kallis came to the crease in the 10th over after left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan reduced South Africa to 47 for two by trapping Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman lbw for one and 22 respectively.

REVERSE SWEEP Fast bowler Munaf Patel had Herschelle Gibbs caught behind by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni before AB de Villiers helped Kallis steady the innings with a stand of 87 for the fourth wicket.

India's reply began shakily when Shaun Pollock removed Wasim Jaffer for nought and Mohammad Kaif for eight in the first nine overs.

Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid stabilised the innings for seven overs, but the match was all but decided when they were dismissed three balls apart.

Fast bowler Charl Langeveldt clean-bowled Dravid for 18 with a delivery that moved sharply off the seam to hit leg stump before Nel bowled Tendulkar off the edge of his bat for 35.

India then lost their last six wickets for 29 runs in the space of 13 overs with Kallis completing an excellent day by taking three for three from 4.1 overs.

The first match of the series was washed out without a ball bowled in Johannesburg on Sunday. The third game of the series will be played in Cape Town this Sunday.

Reuters SBA VP0502