Hashim Amla made a
century in his 100th Test match as he and JP Duminy put South Africa in command
on the first day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
South Africa reached 338 for three at the close of
play, with Amla unbeaten on 124 at the Wanderers Stadium.Duminy made 155
before he was caught at second slip off Lahiru Kumara in the penultimate over
of the day, ending a third wicket partnership of 192.
Amla became the eighth player and second South
African after former captain Graeme Smith to mark 100 Tests with a hundred.After
a lean run of form, Amla struggled early in his innings. The left-handed Duminy
was the dominant partner as he shepherded Amla, who was dropped by Dhananjaya
de Silva at gully off Suranga Lakmal when he had five.
Amla only scored six in the pair's first 50 runs
together. Gradually, though, Amla found his timing and he reached his first
half-century in 11 Test matches shortly before tea. He had faced 109 balls and
hit seven fours.
He blossomed to hit his second half-century off
only 60 balls, reaching his
26th Test hundred when he skipped down the wicket
and lofted Rangana Herath over mid-off for his 14th four.
Duminy, by contrast, cruised to his half-century
off 62 balls with ten boundaries and went on to his sixth Test century after
facing 140 deliveries and adding four more boundaries.
Duminy's previous highest score in three previous
Tests at the Wanderers was 29.
score board
South Africa (I innings):
Cook lbw Mathews 10
Elgar c Karunaratne b Kumara 27
Amla (batting) 125
Duminy c Mendis b Kumara 155
Olivier (batting) 0
Extras (B-9, LB-8, NB-1, W-3) 21
Total (3 wkts, 90 overs) 338