Amla Century Rescues South Africa Innings
Hashim Amla’s first Test century since his last in November 2008 ensured South Africa set England a record 364 to win in the first Test at Centurion on Saturday.
England 2nd innings 11/1 (Cook 4* Anderson 6*) England need 364 to win
South Africa 2nd innings 301/7 (Amla 100 De Villiers 64 Anderson 4/73)
On a pitch with variable bounce, Amla reigned in his wont to play wristy shots round his front pad in a show of a technique vastly improved over the last 18 months.
Amla’s even hundred included, first 119 with the fluent AB de Villiers, and 75 shared with the eventually unbeaten Mark Boucher, either side of Anderson trapping JP Duminy LBW for 11, to steal back the momentum from England’s wicket-filled morning.
Earlier Nightwatchman Paul Harris opened the face for two boundaries through the vacant third man before his luck ran out on 11. A James Anderson delivery struck the bottom of his thigh pad before cannoning into the stumps.
As Graeme Smith attempted to counter LBW by getting outside the line of off stump, Graham Onions found the perfect answer, seaming the ball between bat and pad to remove the South African skipper for 12.
Andrew Strauss’s charges still harbored hopes of bowling the hosts out for under 200 when they removed prized scalp Jacques Kallis to leave them 46-4.
Purveyor of liquorice allsorts Stuart Broad chose the right moment to surprise the run-starved first innings centurion with a bouncer. His top edge was held well by Alastair Cook as he avoided crossing the boundary.
Amla, de Villiers and later Boucher remained positive in difficult circumstances – de Villiers sauntered down the wicket to launch Graeme Swann for six when only on two.
As the demons that saw Andrew Strauss fall victim to an ankle-high grubber Friday disappeared throughout the Proteas revival, so they resurfaced to cost the captain when England’s second innings eventually began.
Smith declared with time for six overs left in the day, Strauss edged behind off Morne Morkel for one the only ball to rise sharply in the entire Test to leave England 11/1 at stumps.
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