Proteas duo plunder tons

Smith and Amla punish Bangladesh on first day of the series

Last updated: 19th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Proteas duo plunder tons

Smith: led from the front

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First Test Match
Bloemfontein
South Africa 299-1 (G C Smith 138 no, H M Amla 103 no) v Bangladesh

South Africa's top order batsmen put them in control on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein.

Graeme Smith (138no) and Hashim Amla (103no) both stroked unbeaten centuries to lead the Proteas to 299-1.

The second-wicket duo shared a stand of 197 after coming together in early afternoon following the dismissal of Neil McKenzie - Bangladesh's solitary breakthrough on a day of toil for the tourists.

McKenzie steered a wide delivery from Shahadat Hossain to backward point for 42 to end a first-wicket stand of 103, the 10th consecutive Test in which he and Smith had passed 50 together - a world record.

Decision

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful opted to field after winning the toss, a decision that showed faith in his bowlers to exploit a green-tinged, moist looking surface.

South Africa were initially made to work hard for their runs - just 22 were scored in the first hour - as Mashrafe Mortaza (0-43), Mahbubul Alam (0-48) and Hossain (1-81) all found plentiful seam movement.

But they failed to make the breakthrough and, as conditions eased, the hosts started to up the scoring rate to reach lunch on 61-0.

After McKenzie had gifted away his wicket, Amla immediately went on the attack, racing to 33 from just 37 deliveries before the first of two rain delays prompted an early tea with South Africa well placed at 154-1.

Delay

And, either side of a further brief rain break, the runs continued to flow during the evening session.

Smith, who had been on 73 at tea, soon went to his third hundred in eight innings against Bangladesh. The left-hander reached the landmark from 177 balls with 13 fours.

The South Africa skipper, playing his first Test since surgery on his elbow following the series victory in England last August - should have been stumped on 84 after giving left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (0-95) the charge and missing, but wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim failed to lay even a glove on the ball.

He later survived a sharp chance to debutant Imrul Kayes at short-leg off the same bowler on 118.

It was Amla who provided most of the entertainment for a sparse crowd, punishing anything overpitched with a succession of elegant drives, although he also enjoyed a moment of good fortune on 93 when Mortaza failed to grasp a regulation edge at slip off the bowling of left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain Jnr.

Amla reached three figures by advancing to loft Mehrab (0-15) over the top for his 10th boundary before bad light brought proceedings to an end shortly afterwards.

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