Amla, De Villiers revive South Africa

CENTURION: Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers were on a 168-run partnership as South Africa recovered from losing three wickets for no runs on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies here on Wednesday.

South Africa were 225 for three at tea after being sent in to bat in heavily overcast conditions.

Amla, captaining South Africa for the first time in a home Test, made 79 not out, while De Villiers hit an unbeaten 85.

The pair came together after South Africa lost three wickets with the total on 57.

Rain delayed the start by half an hour but wayward bowling enabled South Africa to get off to a fast start.

Alviro Petersen hit the first two balls by Jerome Taylor for four as the fast bowler strayed down the leg side. Petersen and Dean Elgar put on 57 for the first wicket before Petersen was caught at first slip by Devon Smith off Kemar Roach for 27.

A drinks break was taken at the fall of the wicket and almost immediately afterwards Elgar (28) slashed a ball from Sheldon Cottrell to Marlon Samuels at gully.

Faf du Plessis was caught behind off Roach without scoring as three wickets fell for no runs in 15 balls.

Amla and De Villiers saw their team through to lunch, adding 45 runs before the break with largely risk-free batting. Their stroke play blossomed after the interval, although Amla had an escape before he had added to his lunch score of 25.

Amla was beaten by a ball from Roach, who appealed for a catch behind. Umpire Aleem Dar turned down the appeal and a slow motion replay showed the ball brushed his off stump, causing the leg bail to lift slightly before settling back into its groove.

De Villiers was first to a half-century, reaching the mark off 78 balls with his tenth four. The 100 partnership came up at the same time off 156 deliveries. Amla´s fifty followed soon afterwards off 87 balls with seven fours.

With the conditions likely to favour pace bowling, South Africa opted to play four specialist fast bowlers and no spinner, with Kyle Abbott playing ahead of left-arm spinner Robin Peterson. Left-handed batsman Stiaan van Zyl was a new cap in the South African team.

The West Indies included left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn and picked three fast bowlers Roach, Taylor and Cottrell. (AFP)