Cricket
Alviro eyes regular Test spot
2010-02-14 21:33
Alviro Petersen (Gallo Images)
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Kolkata - South Africa's Alviro Petersen strengthened his claim for a regular Test opener slot with a century on debut against India on Sunday.
The 29-year-old scored 100 and put on 209 for the second wicket with Hashim Amla (114) on the opening day of the second and final Test at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. The tourists, however, collapsed from a strong 218 for two to 266 for nine at the close of play.
Petersen made his debut after wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was ruled out with a back injury and opened in the place of Ashwell Prince who was moved down to his preferred middle-order.
"It is a special feeling, firstly making my Test debut and scoring a 100 in Kolkata, [which] is a fantastic venue, so I am really happy," Petersen, a specialist opener in domestic cricket, told reporters.
"Last night, I was told that I was definitely playing. So I had an evening to really think it over, and visualise what I wanted to achieve out of it," said Petersen, who became only the third South African after Andrew Hudson and Jacques Rudolph to scored a century on test debut.
"This morning when we won the toss and getting straight into it, as soon as I walked over it was just about my batting."
Petersen's first scoring shot was a flick to the boundary off pacer Ishant Sharma and he batted beautifully for his century.
"It's just the way it worked out. They were trying to get me out early and with that, maybe they offered me a couple of boundary balls and just got me started," said Petersen, who has played 10 one-day internationals.
"I am really determined when I put on the South African jersey to play. On my debut, it's just extra special getting a hundred, so playing for South Africa is a big honour for me."
Petersen fell just before tea when he edged medium-pacer Zaheer Khan behind.