South Africa develop assuring position in West Indies Test

Sport360 staff 19:10 18/12/2014
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  • Superb form with the bat: Captain Hashim Amla hit 208 runs against West Indies.

    Captain Hashim Amla and debutant Stiaan van Zyl piled on the pain for West Indies as South Africa moved into an even more commanding position on day two of the opening Test at Centurion.

    Resuming the day on 340 for three, the Proteas moved on to 552 for five before a declaration arrived at the same time as rain.

    Amla was out for 208 at that point – becoming the third South African batsman to make three or more double Test hundreds – while Van Zyl was unbeaten on 101.

    He offered a sharp chance to slip when on two – but other than that gave little away and became the fifth South African to make three figures on Test debut.

    West Indies' dire mood was deepened as strike bowler Kemar Roach pulled up during his run-up and his participation in the rest of the series, let alone this Test, could now be in doubt.

    It was a blow the Windies could have well done without as their struggles continue in the wake of their aborted tour of India.

    The weather at least saved them here, with South Africa having surely fancied a bowl at them in the final session under cloudy skies. Even so, a deficit of 552 with three full days ahead looks daunting.

    Van Zyl came to the crease after overnight centurion AB de Villiers perished. He added 11 to his overnight 141 before falling to the overworked Sulieman Benn. The spinner toiled through 46 overs, returning figures of two for 148.

    Amla – previously dropped on 180 – was his other victim, guilty only of taking one big hit too many and getting caught in the deep, going for a knock of 208 from 371 balls, scoring 22 fours along the way.

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