Amla hits 159 to put SA on top

CHENNAI – South Africa’s Hashim Amla stroked his second-highest test score of 159 to put his team in command on day two of the first test against India on Thursday.

Amla, who reached his fourth hundred before lunch, was run out following a mix-up with Mark Boucher but the tourists piled on the runs to reach 501 for six at tea. Wicketkeeper Boucher was on 62 with all rounder Morne Morkel 25 not out.Number three batsman Amla, 24, looked set to surpass his career-best 176 not out until his knock ended to provide the hosts a lucky break.Boucher cut leg spinner Anil Kumble to cover and refused the run very late to leave Amla short of the crease when wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni relayed Shanthakumaran Sreesanth’s throw to the bowler.Amla smashed three successive fours against paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to race to his century in the morning, mixing wristy shots with superb drives.He hit 20 fours facing 262 balls and added 99 runs for the sixth wicket with Boucher, and batted close to seven hours.Boucher added 45 runs with Morkel, forcing a frustrated Kumble to spread his field and wait for wickets.AB de Villiers (44) provided India with their only success of the morning when he edged Sreesanth behind the stumps.Sreesanth had him caught behind in an eventful fourth after the umpire was seen talking to the bowler more than once.He first bowled with AB de Villiers far from being ready and then charged up to the batsman on his follow through after the next delivery and said something to him.Although De Villiers hit the next ball for four he lost concentration and edged a drive off the last ball of the over and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni took a diving catch to his right.Neil McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith had given South Africa a superb start on Wednesday by adding 132 runs for the first wicket after the tourists won the toss and chose to bat.The second and third tests will be played in Ahmedabad and Kanpur respectively.Nampa-ReutersWicketkeeper Boucher was on 62 with all rounder Morne Morkel 25 not out.Number three batsman Amla, 24, looked set to surpass his career-best 176 not out until his knock ended to provide the hosts a lucky break.Boucher cut leg spinner Anil Kumble to cover and refused the run very late to leave Amla short of the crease when wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni relayed Shanthakumaran Sreesanth’s throw to the bowler.Amla smashed three successive fours against paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to race to his century in the morning, mixing wristy shots with superb drives.He hit 20 fours facing 262 balls and added 99 runs for the sixth wicket with Boucher, and batted close to seven hours.Boucher added 45 runs with Morkel, forcing a frustrated Kumble to spread his field and wait for wickets.AB de Villiers (44) provided India with their only success of the morning when he edged Sreesanth behind the stumps.Sreesanth had him caught behind in an eventful fourth after the umpire was seen talking to the bowler more than once.He first bowled with AB de Villiers far from being ready and then charged up to the batsman on his follow through after the next delivery and said something to him.Although De Villiers hit the next ball for four he lost concentration and edged a drive off the last ball of the over and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni took a diving catch to his right.Neil McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith had given South Africa a superb start on Wednesday by adding 132 runs for the first wicket after the tourists won the toss and chose to bat.The second and third tests will be played in Ahmedabad and Kanpur respectively.Nampa-Reuters