Amla, Kallis shine with bat
27/09/2007 15:16  - (SA)  

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Karachi, Pakistan - Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis struck timely half centuries on Thursday in South Africa's three-day warm-up game against the Patron's XI ahead of the first Test against Pakistan next week.

South Africa finished the opening day of the match at 294 for five in their first innings with AB de Villiers batting on 48 while Mark Boucher not out on 14.

"It is better for the batters to spend some time in the middle rather than have nets as we have very short time before the first Test begins from Monday," coach Mickey Arthur said.

Both Amla and Kallis spent some valuable time at the crease and contributed 130 runs for the third wicket after South Africa had a slow start and lost both its openers before lunch.

"The top order (batting) will be instrumental for us in the Test matches and it's good that they spent some time in the middle," Arthur said.

Amla made 87 in three and a half hours while Kallis contributed 73, which included nine fours. Amla took time to settle down but later played some attractive drives - including two sixes over extra cover and 10 boundaries.

Smith was stumped

Herschelle Gibbs (31) and captain Graeme Smith (20) - fresh from the Twenty20 World Cup back home - gave South Africa a steady but slow start of 56 as South Africa made 64-2 in 24 overs before lunch after they were put into bat.

Smith was stumped when he missed leg-spinner Rizwan Ahmed's third delivery of the match while Gibbs - dropped on five early in his knock - hit a rasping square cut only to see Mansoor Amjad taking a lightening catch at point.

Kallis and Amla denied the Patron's XI further success in the mid-session before they hit back with three wickets in the last session.

Kallis was splendidly caught by Junaid Zia low at midwicket off Pakistan's Under-19 fast bowler Anwar Ali .nd Amla holed out in the deep off Ahmed, who also had Ashwell Prince caught close to the wicket to finish the day with 3-90.

The first Test begins on Oct 1.

Scores: South Africa first innings: 294-5 (Hashim Amla 87, Jacques Kallis 73, AB de Villiers 47 not out, Herschelle Gibbs 31; Rizwan Ahmed 3-90).

- AP

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