Having ceded centre-stage to Jacques Kallis for much of the first day, Hashim Amla, the arc lights trained squarely on him on the second day of the first Test, delivered a virtuoso performance.
It wasn’t in front of a full house, but Amla’s unbeaten 253 possessed all the qualities of a blockbuster; it also had the imprint of individuality that separates the memorable innings from the average marathon.
Graeme Smith declared South Africa’s first innings on 558 for six, leaving India’s openers four overs to survive. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag handled the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel without discomfort, raising 25 before stumps.
India faces a difficult middle day; its batsmen will do worse than reprise the attitude to innings-building Amla and Kallis displayed.
Beginning authoritatively
Amla, resuming on 115, began Sunday authoritatively. There was a time when Amla’s movements at the crease resembled those of a marionette dangled on strings: the bat descended after a loopy double-take; the feet limply straddled the crease. Amla has since tidied his game, refining his back-lift, strengthening his footwork.
It’s still a refreshingly unique method, but as he showed at the VCA Stadium, it’s grown more robust. Amla’s pull stroke, for instance, was fraught with risk earlier; the simplification of the back-lift has helped him execute the stroke with greater control.
Both Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma were pulled in front of square by Amla. The full ball that followed was driven securely.
Source : http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/08/stories/2010020850801600.htm
It wasn’t in front of a full house, but Amla’s unbeaten 253 possessed all the qualities of a blockbuster; it also had the imprint of individuality that separates the memorable innings from the average marathon.
Graeme Smith declared South Africa’s first innings on 558 for six, leaving India’s openers four overs to survive. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag handled the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel without discomfort, raising 25 before stumps.
India faces a difficult middle day; its batsmen will do worse than reprise the attitude to innings-building Amla and Kallis displayed.
Beginning authoritatively
Amla, resuming on 115, began Sunday authoritatively. There was a time when Amla’s movements at the crease resembled those of a marionette dangled on strings: the bat descended after a loopy double-take; the feet limply straddled the crease. Amla has since tidied his game, refining his back-lift, strengthening his footwork.
It’s still a refreshingly unique method, but as he showed at the VCA Stadium, it’s grown more robust. Amla’s pull stroke, for instance, was fraught with risk earlier; the simplification of the back-lift has helped him execute the stroke with greater control.
Both Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma were pulled in front of square by Amla. The full ball that followed was driven securely.
Source : http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/08/stories/2010020850801600.htm
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