Hashim Amla’s third double-ton for South Africa and Stiaan van Zyl’s unbeaten century on debut against West Indies helped the hosts declare on 552 for five before rain brought an early end to day two of the first Test yesterday.
A heavy downpour that started just after the Proteas’ declaration about 30 minutes before tea meant no more play and an early 10am start today.
It was a day to remember for Amla and Van Zyl, who are on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of Test experience but can be equally pleased with their efforts in helping South Africa to their massive total.
Amla showed all of his famous powers of concentration and stamina to bat for almost eight hours in compiling 208 from 371 balls before he holed out to long-on off the bowling of left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn as the hosts tried to up the tempo.
The impressive Van Zyl, long tipped as an international cricketer, grabbed his moment by smashing 15 boundaries to end the innings on 101 not out from 130 balls.
He is the fifth South African to score a Test hundred on debut, but his total is far short of the record set by Jacques Rudolph of 222 not out against Bangladesh in 2003.
The 27-year-old Van Zyl was nearly out first ball, though, as he tickled a leg-side delivery from Benn that fell just short of the leg slip.
He was then dropped on two by Kraigg Brathwaite in the same position off Benn again but after that he grew in confidence with every run scored.
The only other wicket to fall in another dominant day for South Africa was AB de Villiers, for 152, when he became a first victim in the Test for the luckless Benn after a thick outside edge was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at point.
His dismissal ended a record fourth-wicket stand in Tests for South Africa of 308, the partnership with Amla digging the side out of trouble on the first morning when the hosts lost three quick wickets to slip to 57/3.
West Indies’ bowling attack toiled without their main weapon Kemar Roach, who is unlikely to feature again in the Test.
He limped off on day one and an MRI scan showed slight ligament damage but West Indies have said he will bowl in the second innings if needed.
Two days ago, Amla shrugged off questions about the added pressure on his shoulders now that he would captain SA’s Test team at home for the first time.
Yesterday, on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies, he answered those questions more emphatically than he could ever do in words.
Van Zyl needed 11 deliveries, not many of them played convincingly, to get off the mark.
“It’s a big stage, but it’s still just a cricket ball coming towards you,” he said, but he conceded that, “My gloves were wet (with sweat) before I faced my first ball.”
When his first single was in the book, Amla told him, “I know it’s only one run, but well done.”
Van Zyl replied: “It’s the best run I’ve scored in my career.”
Ninety-nine of those red balloons later, Van Zyl was raising his bat to a sumptuous ovation. “I’ve known Stiaan for a little while now, and he’s got a lot of tons under his belt – he seemed calm, even in the 90s,” said Amla.
Back in the real world, Amla knew he and his team would have to box clever around the weather what with more rain forecast for today and Sunday.“We tried to score as quickly as possible to give ourselves enough time to bowl them out. We’ve got three days to take 20 wickets,” he said.
Raining tons as Proteas go on attack
A heavy downpour that started just after the Proteas’ declaration about 30 minutes before tea meant no more play and an early 10am start today.
It was a day to remember for Amla and Van Zyl, who are on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of Test experience but can be equally pleased with their efforts in helping South Africa to their massive total.
Amla showed all of his famous powers of concentration and stamina to bat for almost eight hours in compiling 208 from 371 balls before he holed out to long-on off the bowling of left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn as the hosts tried to up the tempo.
The impressive Van Zyl, long tipped as an international cricketer, grabbed his moment by smashing 15 boundaries to end the innings on 101 not out from 130 balls.
He is the fifth South African to score a Test hundred on debut, but his total is far short of the record set by Jacques Rudolph of 222 not out against Bangladesh in 2003.
The 27-year-old Van Zyl was nearly out first ball, though, as he tickled a leg-side delivery from Benn that fell just short of the leg slip.
He was then dropped on two by Kraigg Brathwaite in the same position off Benn again but after that he grew in confidence with every run scored.
The only other wicket to fall in another dominant day for South Africa was AB de Villiers, for 152, when he became a first victim in the Test for the luckless Benn after a thick outside edge was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at point.
His dismissal ended a record fourth-wicket stand in Tests for South Africa of 308, the partnership with Amla digging the side out of trouble on the first morning when the hosts lost three quick wickets to slip to 57/3.
West Indies’ bowling attack toiled without their main weapon Kemar Roach, who is unlikely to feature again in the Test.
He limped off on day one and an MRI scan showed slight ligament damage but West Indies have said he will bowl in the second innings if needed.
Two days ago, Amla shrugged off questions about the added pressure on his shoulders now that he would captain SA’s Test team at home for the first time.
Yesterday, on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies, he answered those questions more emphatically than he could ever do in words.
Van Zyl needed 11 deliveries, not many of them played convincingly, to get off the mark.
“It’s a big stage, but it’s still just a cricket ball coming towards you,” he said, but he conceded that, “My gloves were wet (with sweat) before I faced my first ball.”
When his first single was in the book, Amla told him, “I know it’s only one run, but well done.”
Van Zyl replied: “It’s the best run I’ve scored in my career.”
Ninety-nine of those red balloons later, Van Zyl was raising his bat to a sumptuous ovation. “I’ve known Stiaan for a little while now, and he’s got a lot of tons under his belt – he seemed calm, even in the 90s,” said Amla.
Back in the real world, Amla knew he and his team would have to box clever around the weather what with more rain forecast for today and Sunday.“We tried to score as quickly as possible to give ourselves enough time to bowl them out. We’ve got three days to take 20 wickets,” he said.
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