Amla century boosts South Africans in tour game
A century from Hashim Amla and Mark Boucher's unbeaten 64 boosted the South Africans to 329 for 8 on the first day of their warm-up match against BCB XI
Cricinfo staff
17-Feb-2008
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A century from Hashim Amla and Mark Boucher's unbeaten 64 boosted the South Africans to 329 for 8 at close on the first day of their three-day warm-up match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Fatullah.
Both teams named 12 players [with 11 fielding and 11 batting], which also happens to be the strength of South Africa's squad at present, with opener Neil McKenzie and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson due to join later. Tamim Iqbal was not part of the BCB XI, still suffering from a broken thumb, and veteran Habibul Bashar was also not included.
Graeme Smith, the South African captain, opted to bat after winning the toss. JP Duminy, who starred in the middle-order during South Africa's ODI cleansweep over West Indies, opened the batting along with his captain. However, both failed to make an impact and were snared early by left-arm bowler Syed Rasel, who had missed most of the Bangladesh's New Zealand tour due to a dislocated left collar bone.
South Africa recovered from 35 for 2 thanks to a century stand between Amla and Jacques Kallis. Amla did the bulk of the the scoring during his stint at the crease, he scored 103 off just 120 deliveries as South Africa moved from 5 for 1 to 169 for 4, when he fell to Enamul Haque jnr. Haque also dismissed Kallis and finished the day with figures of 2 for 71.
Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers got themselves some batting practice, but both perished in the 30s. Farhad Reza staked his claim for a Test debut with three wickets, removing de Villiers before getting rid of Johan Botha and Morne Morkel for ducks. Mark Boucher fought hard and added an unbroken 55-run stand with fast-bowing sensation Dale Steyn, who contributed 19.
This is South Africa's only practice game ahead of the two-Test series, and a few quick runs on the second day could be handy for the visitors before letting the bowlers get their rhythm against a line-up which contains several national team regulars.
