Amla, de Villiers Centuries Put South Africa on Top

Centurion: Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers were on a 283-run partnership as South Africa recovered from losing three wickets for no runs to 340 for 3 at stump on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies here on Wednesday.

Amla, captaining South Africa for the first time in a home Test, made 133 not out, while De Villiers hit an unbeaten 141.

Amla hits 17 boundaries in 23rd Test century while AB scored 15 fours and two sixes in 20th Test ton.

The pair came together after South Africa lost three wickets with the total on 57.

Rain delayed the start by half an hour but wayward bowling enabled South Africa to get off to a fast start.

Alviro Petersen hit the first two balls by Jerome Taylor for four as the fast bowler strayed down the leg side. Petersen and Dean Elgar put on 57 for the first wicket before Petersen was caught at first slip by Devon Smith off Kemar Roach for 27.

A drinks break was taken at the fall of the wicket and almost immediately afterwards Elgar (28) slashed a ball from Sheldon Cottrell to Marlon Samuels at gully.

Faf du Plessis was caught behind off Roach without scoring as three wickets fell for no runs in 15 balls.

Amla and ABD saw their team through to lunch, adding 45 runs before the lunch with largely risk-free batting. Their stroke play blossomed after the interval, although Amla had an escape before he had added to his lunch score of 25.

Amla was beaten by a ball from Roach, who appealed for a catch behind. Umpire Aleem Dar turned down the appeal and a slow motion replay showed the ball brushed his off stump, causing the leg bail to lift slightly before settling back into its groove.

Earlier, West Indies have won the toss and have opted to bowl.

Stiaan van Zan make his Test debut for South Africa.

Teams:

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Alviro Petersen, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (Capt.), AB de Villiers, Stiaan van Zyl, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott

West Indies: Devon Smith, Kraigg Brathwaite, Leon Johnson, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Denesh Ramdin (Capt. & wk), Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Sheldon Cottrell

Brief scores
South Africa - 340/3 (de Villiers 141*, Amla 133*)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs India - 4th T20I 2nd T20I - Australia v Pakistan - November 16, 08:00 GMT 4th T20I - West Indies v England - November 16, 20:00 GMT 3rd T20I - West Indies v England at St. Lucia England won by 3 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) 1st T20I - Australia v Pakistan at Brisbane Australia won by 29 runs

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