By Sanjay Rajan

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Opener Virender Sehwag plundered his 19th test century as India took control of the second and final test against South Africa on Monday.

Sehwag smashed 19 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 125 to guide India to 232 for two at tea on the second day after earlier dismissing the tourists for 296 in the first innings.

Sehwag shared in an unbroken third wicket stand of 150 with Sachin Tendulkar (65) after Gautam Gambhir was needlessly run out for 25, and Murali Vijay was dismissed by Morne Morkel for seven.

Paceman Zaheer Khan took the last South African wicket in the fourth over of the morning after the tourists, who lead the two-match series 1-0, had resumed on 266-9.

India need to square the two-match series to hold on to their number one ranking while the tourists are bidding to both leapfrog the hosts at the top of the standings and record a first test series victory on Indian soil in almost a decade.

Sehwag, who scored a century in the opening test, cut and drove with power and poise hitting fast bowler Morkel for 15 boundaries, forcing him out of the attack after he smashed three fours in one over.

Sehwag exploited the width, pace and bounce the South African bowlers offered, reaching his century with a punch off paceman Wayne Parnell through point.

Gambhir fell to a throw from the deep by Alviro Petersen when his opening partner called him for a second run that was never on.