Third Test, Day 1
South Africa 338/3 (Duminy 155, Amla 125*)
JOHANNESBURG – All hail the Mighty Hash! Hashim Amla became only the eighth player to score a century in his 100th Test when he reached three figures to give South Africa a significant advantage on the first day of the final Test against Sri Lanka.
Seven batsmen before Amla has scored a century in their 100th Tests, including former Proteas captain Graeme Smith in his knock of 131 against England at The Oval in 2012.
Australia great Ricky Ponting made two hundreds in his 100th Test against South Africa in Sydney in 2006.
Reaching his sixth century, JP Duminy was initially in the driving seat, with Amla happy to tag along for the ride.
Although the spotlight fell on Amla in his milestone game, the stalwart took a back seat, allowing Duminy to take the shine.
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The indomitable Amla reached his 26th hundred of his illustrious career half-way through the afternoon session to bring about a standing ovation from the Wanderers crowd before finishing the day unbeaten on 125 (221 balls, 16x4).
The dangerous duo battered the Sri Lankan bowling attack in the afternoon session before Duminy edged a Lahiru Kumara delivery to Kusal Mendis at second slip, departing on 155 (221 balls, 19x4) just before the close of play.
Operating as a nightwatchman, debutant Duanne Olivier was sent in with only a few deliveries left in the day, and held his nerve to survive four balls before stumps.
The cricket gods seemed to smile on Amla as he was given an early lifeline in the over before lunch when Dhananjaya de Silva dropped the South African on five.
Walking out at the Bullring, Amla became only the eight South African to play in 100 Tests, joining a select group including Smith, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Smith, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Gary Kirsten.
Surviving a few early nervous moments including the dropped catch, he started to play with more ease as he worked the ball around the ground.
Time seemed to slow as he got closer to his century, but in typical Amla fashion, he would not be rushed.
Amla reached the milestone on his own terms and in style, playing a Rangana Herath delivery down the ground for four.
Duminy’s equally impressive knock was almost dwarfed by Amla’s shining moment, but his contribution to Amla’s achievement should not be underestimated as he raced to the second-highest score of his career.
Amla’s calm demeanour is spoken of fondly by former and current teammates, but on this special day, there was a clear role reversal as Duminy settled the nerves, allowing the man of the moment to regain his confidence.
It was the perfect combination on a perfect day for one of South Africa’s greatest ever batsmen as Amla demonstrated the grace that fans from around the globe have come to love.
It was an important innings for the Mighty Hash, scoring his first hundred in almost a year to erase the fleeting memories of a lean patch.
Duminy and Amla rebuilt South Africa’s innings after the two openers departed shortly before the lunch break, sharing a third-wicket partnership of 292.
Opting for an all-out pace attack, Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis raised some eyebrows when he decided to bat first after winning the toss.
With the return of Wayne Parnell and Olivier being handed his first Test cap, the Proteas went into the match without a front-line spinner.
Despite the early departure of Stephen Cook (10) and Dean Elgar (27) shortly before lunch, Amla and Duminy’s stand vindicated Du Plessis.
South Africa got off to a slow start, with the Sri Lankan bowling attack hardly giving the two openers anything to worry about.
Sri Lanka finally got the rub of the green as Angelo Mathews trapped Cook lbw before Elgar followed suit when he got a thick edge to Dimuth Karunaratne at slip off Kumara.