Amla sends India on leather Hunt |
|
Friday March 28, 01:16 AM
Chennai, March 27: South Africa, building on the momentum of the opening day, worked away at the Indian bowling till well past the tea break on the second day to post their highest score on Indian soil. Hashim Amla led the hunt for runs most capably in his innings of 159 that bankrolled South Africa to a total of 540 in the first Future Cup Test at the Chidambaram Stadium. The total should give the visitors some breathing space but modern cricket is such these figures do not guarantee absolute safety.
The hosts made a strong enough start to be 82/0 at close on the second day to open up some interesting possibilities. Virender Sehwag, looking in ominous touch, is unbeaten on a stroke-filled 52. He and Wasim Jaffer cashed in on some pretty ordinary bowling, much as the visitors had done.
Makhaya Ntini, for whom this ground will become home in a few weeks, tended to bang it in short and the openers helped themselves to a six each over the slips. Sehwag cut Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn whenever they gave him room on the off side. Much like India, Graeme Smith switched to spin early in the form of Paul Harris but there was no protection from the healthy scoring rate.
The key to India pulling things back was maintain a line that would not allow easy runs. It was hard for the bowlers to make inroads but keeping the run flow under check was within their grasp and they fell short on that front.
Anil Kumble was forced to take the new ball in the 94th over as Harbhajan went for 19 runs in his first three overs. Bowling to a 6-3 onside field, the off-spinner bowled far too short outside the off-stump.
Amla (159 off 262 balls, 20x4) brought up his fourth Test ton with three successive boundaries off Sreesanth. The Kerala seamer got the new ball to shape away nicely but also got hot under the collar as the batsmen picked on him when he erred in length. He had to be reminded by the umpire on the thin dividing line between celebrating a wicket and needling an opponent.
Amidst the carnage, Sreesanth had De Villiers nicking one and Dhoni held it on the move. Sree did not win himself too many friends in the South African camp with an in-your-face kind of celebration that ICC officials may frown upon.
Mark Boucher joined Amla and the runs kept trickling in. Boucher survived a confident lbw appeal by Sree, a very thin inside edge saving him. India should have pushed harder at this point. Instead, the intensity went missing for a while as the partnership progressed.
Kumble’s stingy ways prompted Boucher to set off for a non-existent single and turn back and it was too late for Amla to regain his crease. The partnership was terminated on 99. Kumble’s 11-over spell at that point was tight and probing. He gave away 28 runs. Not a wicket to show but a spirited effort nonetheless.
India’s fielding was shabby as symbolised in Kumble’s hands going to his hips in despair often.
Balls were let through the legs and the boundaries flowed freely. South Africa made most of the momentum they enjoyed and tea was taken at 501/6.
It was after Boucher fell to Sehwag that the end of the innings was hastened with Harbhajan deciding to float the ball up fully aware that the tail was bound to go for the offering.
Another five-wicket haul at the venue, but he may still not be too happy with his bowling form.
|
More Cricket News
Shielding Mendis before final paid offDhoni in race for awardEngland name unchanged team for record sixth timeEden Garden groundsmen threaten suicide over paySri Lanka board hopes to end player contracts disputeSri Lanka contract dispute clouds India tourIt's never too late when you are a child prodigyGanguly confident of successSurprised by Test call-up, Ojha hopes to deliverOut on a limb?
