Proteas declare after Elgar ton

Proteas captain Graeme Smith called in his men on 525 for eight after allowing Dean Elgar to score his maiden Test century on day two of the second Test against New Zealand. Photo by: Themba Hadebe

Proteas captain Graeme Smith called in his men on 525 for eight after allowing Dean Elgar to score his maiden Test century on day two of the second Test against New Zealand. Photo by: Themba Hadebe

Published Jan 12, 2013

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Port Elizabeth – Proteas captain Graeme Smith called in his men on 525 for eight after allowing Dean Elgar to score his maiden Test century on day two of the second Test against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Shortly after tea, Elgar became the third batsman of the innings to reach the three-digit milestone after Hashim Amla (110) and Faf du Plessis (137) had also made tons.

Elgar’s unbeaten 103 came off 170 balls and included 14 fours and a six.

Batting was not easy on a moist wicket and it was not until Elgar joined Du Plessis at the crease that the runs began to flow.

The pair combined for a 131-run partnership Ä South Africa’s highest sixth-wicket stand against New Zealand at St George’s Park.

Elgar, who made a pair in his first Test, and 21 in his only other innings Ä in the Cape Town Test last week Ä played with more determination and struck some magnificent boundaries.

However, runs dried up after Du Plessis departed for 137, and Smith waited till after tea to declare the innings, with Elgar on the brink of his hundred at the break.

Robin Peterson and Dale Steyn perished in the process of assisting Elgar to his milestone, while Rory Kleinveldt saw him through his big moment.

Doug Bracewell was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, bagging 3/94. Colin Munro took 2/40 while Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Jeetan Patel shared the other three wickets. – Sapa

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