Kallis, Amla superb

NAGPUR – Jaques Kallis and Hashim Amla tuned up for the first Test match against India starting on Saturday with batting displays of the highest class on the second day of the warm-up match against the BCCI President’s XI at Nagpur on Wednesday.

The match finished in a draw as the Proteas made 354 in response to the home team’s 318.
The pair achieved the dual tasks of spending substantial time in the middle and of playing dominating innings before both retired to give the other players the chance to have valuable middle form as well.
Kallis made 63 off 58 balls with eight fours and three sixes while Amla contributed 72 off 122 balls with 12 fours.
If one included the later contributions from AB de Villiers, who was dismissed last ball before tea, and JP Duminy, the Proteas actually scored more than 160 runs in the middle session in 31 overs.
As well as Kallis and Amla played, batting coach Kepler Wessels also pointed to the importance of the performances of Ashwell Prince and Duminy who had had lean Test series against England.
Duminy finished on a classy 39 off 47 balls with four fours. – Nampa-Sapa