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Amla takes SA
to near safety with his 149 |
April 30, 2006 (Click to see the
Scorecard)
Hashim Amla scored 99 runs in the fourth day's
play to take his personal score to an impressive
149 and in turn ensured that his team was well
and safe to secure a draw. Amla, who had come in
for Gibbs in this Test Match grabbed the
opportunity with both hands and he was well
supported by senior payer Jacques Kallis. The
pair continued yesterday's good work to put on
142 runs for the 3rd wicket. Most importantly,
the pair batted together for more than 50 overs!
This meant that the New Zealand bowlers were
well tired and were starting to go through their
motions as South Africa started to kill enough
time in this game. At close of play on Day 4,
the South African first innings hasn't come to a
close yet with the 6th wicket partnership
between Prince and Boucher on a solid unbeaten
76.
Jacques Kallis was the first man to go today out
to a miscued pull shot to mid on and he got out
to a bowler who didn't bowl a single delivery
yesterday and that was Jacob Oram. Kallis had
departed after making a solid 71. After Kallis'
fall, Amla partnered well with Ashwell Prince to
put on 92 runs and this partnership had lasted a
good 30 overs - again to take this match away
from the New Zealanders. Hashim Amla was out
finally through an unfortunate dismissal - given
out lbw although the batsman got an inside edge
before Vettori's arm ball had thudded onto his
pads. A job done to perfection from Hashim Amla
but he would have loved to have converted his
maiden century into a maiden double century as
well. It was a chance gone wasted as the pitch
had become a bowlers' graveyard and a batting
paradise totally. New Zealand had the slightest
of hopes of making something out of this match
when they had picked up AB de Villiers early
through a bat pad catch off Jeetan Patel, but
they were once again frustrated by the South
African batsmen - this time it was Ashwell
Prince and Mark Boucher.
South Africans have already given up in this
match since Day 2 and it has been clear that
they have been concentrating on just blocking
and keeping the Kiwi bowlers at bay. Now it
looks clear that the New Zealanders have also
resigned to the fate of the match and for the
two sides, it might be just some academic
interest of taking wickets and scoring runs to
boost up their career stats on the final day's
play. One man would certainly be looking forward
for the day's play tomorrow and that is Ashwell
Prince, who is 30 runs short of scoring his 4th
Test hundred. Not sure if the South Africans
will be dismissed at all in their first innings
at all, we will have to wait and see if that
happens.
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