Another century for Amla
2008-07-08 13:38
London - Hashim Amla's fine start to South Africa's tour of England continued with another big century on Friday while Ashwell Prince also weighed in with a hundred on the first day against Middlesex at Uxbridge.
Amla's 161 followed on from his 172 against Somerset in the tour opener at Taunton while Prince was unbeaten on 104 at stumps on the first day of this three-day match.
The only worry for South Africa with regard to Amla was that he might somehow be 'using up' all his runs ahead of the four-match Test series against England which starts at Lord's next week.
Of greater concern for the Proteas was that captain Graeme Smith, in his first match since tearing his hamstring in the Indian Premier League, failed to cash in on a solid start and fell for 35.
The left-handed opener, who won the toss, was at the crease for over two hours in a largely risk-free innings.
Prince looked in fine touch
Smith contributed just 29 to a second-wicket stand of 106 with Amla after the early loss of Neil McKenzie before being caught behind shortly after lunch off pace bowler Alan Richardson.
No 3 Amla made a scratchy start, with several edged shots early on. But he ultimately took advantage of the benign batting conditions, with 12 fours alone in his first fifty.
His century took Amla just 119 balls and saw him strike three sixes off one over from on-loan Yorkshire leg-spinner Mark Lawson.
After Jacques Kallis was caught behind for two, Prince came in and the left-hander looked in fine touch while making a 167-ball hundred in a stand of 190.
Amla, whose innings featured several wristy deflections, eventually fell to a tired drive off Danny Evans which gave wicket-keeper Ben Scott his third catch of the innings.
In all he batted for just over five hours, facing 233 balls with three sixes and 22 fours.