Amla century powers South Africa in Chennai test

Hashim Amla stroked his fourth century to power South Africa to 404 for five against India today

Hashim Amla stroked his fourth century to power South Africa to 404 for five at lunch on the second day of the first test against India today.

The 24-year-old lashed three fours in a row against paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to reach triple figures and was unbeaten on 124 at the interval as the tourists built on a good start. Mark Boucher was 26 not out.

AB de Villiers provided India with their only success of the session when he was out for 44 to Sreesanth.

South Africa, 304 for four overnight after winning the toss and electing to bat, added 100 runs in the session as they looked on course for a huge total, frustrating the home bowlers in sapping humidity.

Amla took his time to settle
Amla, 85 not out overnight, took his time to settle down in the morning and had struck 15 fours in his nearly six-hour knock.

At the other end, De Villiers forced spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan to back off and then waded into the listless RP Singh after the second new ball was taken in the fourth over of the day.

The bearded Amla patiently added 66 runs for the fifth wicket until De Villiers was out. Sreesanth had him caught behind in an eventful fourth after the umpire was seen talking to the bowler more than once.

Sreesanth 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. The bowler was twice fined for poor behaviour in 2007 and cautioned during an ill-tempered home ODI series against Australia.

Neil McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith had given South Africa a superb start yesterday by adding 132 runs for the first wicket. The tourists are bidding for their third successive series win in the sub-continent after defeating Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The second and third tests in the series will be played in Ahmedabad and Kanpur. - Reuters