Cricket
Amla consolidates SA innings
2010-02-07 13:47
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Hashim Amla celebrates reaching the 200 run mark for the first time. (Gallo Images)
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Nagpur - Hashim Amla smashed his maiden double-century to guide South Africa to an imposing 558-6 declared on the second day of the first Test against India on Sunday.
Amla hit 20 fours in his unbeaten 253-run knock and added 108 runs for the fourth wicket with AB de Villiers (53), on a slow wicket at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur.
Amla, 26, reached the 200-run mark in style, driving part-time spinner Virender Sehwag (1-42) for a scorching four through the covers.
De Villiers completed his 21st Test half-century before edging Sehwag to backward point where debutant Subramaniam Badrinath took a simple catch. He hit five fours in his 88-ball knock.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2-145) earned India the second success in the post-lunch session when he trapped Jean-Paul Duminy plumb in front of the wicket for nine.
Amla, playing his 42nd Test, earlier put on a record 340 runs with Jacques Kallis (173) for the third wicket.
Their stand was the highest for South Africa for any wicket against India, bettering the previous partnership of 256 runs between Kallis and de Villiers in the Ahmedabad Test.
After toiling without success for two sessions on Saturday, India finally got the key wicket of Kallis when Harbhajan had him caught by Murali Vijay.
Kallis, eyeing a maiden double century, got a thick inside edge on to the pad which popped up to Vijay at short-leg. He was only able to add 14 runs to his overnight score of 159.
Amla was lucky to survive at the other end after Vijay dropped a sitter off Harbhajan when the batsman was on 149.
At stumps India were 25 without loss. Gautam Gambhir is on 12 and Virender Sehwag on 9.
The second and final Test between the world's top two teams begins in Kolkata on February 14.
South Africa can snatch back the number one Test ranking from India if they win the series while the hosts need just a draw to remain on top.