Ahmadabad, April 4:

AB de Villiers punished the India attack for a double century on Friday as South Africa accumulated a massive first-innings lead in the second Test.

De Villiers (217 not out) batted through the day, becoming the first South African to post a double century against India, and shared a record-breaking stand of 256 with Jacques Kallis (132) that spurred them to an imposing 494-7 on the second day.

South Africa hold a 418-run lead after India was dismissed for a paltry 76 in their first innings. De Villiers was still going strong when heavy, unseasonal showers curtailed play in the final session, with Paul Harris (9) the other unbeaten batsman.

Resuming at the overnight score of 223-4, South Africa added 271 runs for the loss of Kallis, Mark Boucher (21) and Morne Morkel (1), positioning themselves for a win that would give them the series lead after the drawn opening Test.

Surviving a run out chance on 89, de Villiers scored his fifth century in 39 Tests and his first against India.

Dominating a dispirited India attack, de Villiers surpassed his previous best Test score of 178 in style, hoisting spinner Harbhajan Singh (4-135) for a six over midwicket, sending the ball onto the roof of a stand. His previous best was against the West Indies in 2005.

De Villiers completed his double century with a cover-drive boundary off Singh. His eight-hour knock contained 17 fours and two sixes off 333 deliveries. The previous highest score for a South African batsman against India was 196 by Herschelle Gibbs at Port Elizabeth in 2001.