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Amla stands tall to keep SA going forward
Hashim Amla's 85 not out took South Africa to the close on 304 for four on the first day of the first test against India in Chennai on Wednesday.
Amla stood firm for 159 balls and hit ten fours. If he completes his century on Thursday he will do what Graeme Smith (73) and Neil McKenzie (94) couldn't quite manage.
Smith and McKenzie set South Africa on their way to their solid score with an opening stand of 132.
That marked the 14th time that Smith has been involved in a century partnership for the first wicket for South Africa.
The other 13 were shared with Gary Kirsten, who is now India's coach.
Captain Smith's day started well when he won the toss and was able to choose to bat on what looked a docile pitch.
Recent rain had created speculation that the surface would be lively to start with, but Smith's decision was soon proved correct as he and McKenzie began picking off the runs with little fuss.
McKenzie showed fine touch and timing, while Smith started more slowly but caught up well and by the end of the first session the runs were flowing and South Africa's openers looked in control.
Not only was the pitch flat, but the intense heat also did nothing to aid India's cause. The soaring temperature and humidity prompted the umpires to call for drinks after just 40 minutes instead of the usual hour.
Smith and McKenzie were separated in the ninth over after lunch when the skipper failed to control a drive to a ball from leg-spinner Anil Kumble and was smartly caught by VVS Laxman at short midwicket.
McKenzie was dismissed in the fourth over before tea when he pushed forward to a delivery from Harbhajan Singh and edged a catch to Rahul Dravid at slip. That ended a stand of 64 between McKenzie and Amla.
Amla played with admirable discipline throughout his innings, a quality that became more evident in the final session when players of the patience of Jacques Kallis (13) and Ashwell Prince (23) fell by the wayside.
Kallis edged a ball from Harbhajan Singh onto his pad and into the hands of Wasim Jaffer at short leg.
Prince blooped a delivery from Anil Kumble the ball back down the pitch. The veteran leg-spinner dived and took the catch left-handed.
By the close, Amla was looking as solid as ever with AB de Villiers having settled in well for his ten not out.
Teams:
India: Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Anil Kumble (captain), Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, Sreesanth.
South Africa: Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
