Hall landmark puts SA in charge

Andrew Hall leads the way for South Africa against India

Andrew Hall’s highest ever first class score underpinned a fine South African batting effort as the tourists reached 459 for seven at stumps on day two of the first Test with India.

Hall, promoted to opener because Herschelle Gibbs refused to tour because he did not get the guarantee he was seeking that he would not be arrested by police still probing match-fixing on the last Proteas tour of India, also made his maiden Test century.

He departed just before tea when he was bowled around his legs by Anil Kumble after a career-best 163 which was made off 454 balls with Hall almost surviving five sessions.

He had struck 17 fours in an innings that was noted for its patience from a player who can club the ball as well as anyone when necessary.

Hall looked furious with himself as he departed with his head hanging to a standing ovation from a lively Indian crowd and clearly felt he had missed out on an even bigger score and possibly a double century.

He had received able support from Zander De Bruyn who went on to make 83 before becoming the seventh man out while Shaun Pollock had accummulated an unbeaten 31 at close of play.

Hall reached his century in the morning session by sweeping Kumble to fine leg for his 13th four from his 325th ball.

It must have been a sweet moment for Hall who was famously left stranded on 99 not out on South Africa’s last tour of England when he took a single off the second-last ball of the over only for last man Dewald Pretorius to fail to survive the last.

That was when Hall was an odd-jobbing all-rounder who had only been called into service from county duty with Worcestershire because of injuries.

In India, however, he has certainly made an excellent start to his new career as an opener and Gibbs might have worries of a different kind if Hall can continue in the same vein.

The Proteas resumed in the morning on 230 for four and Hall lost overnight partner Boeta Dippenaar in the morning session when he was caught behind by Dinesh Karthik off Sourav Ganguly for 48.

That brought De Bruyn to the crease and the two put on 144 for the sixth wicket before Hall finally departed to Kumble who completed his 28th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

It has not all been sweet for Kumble who will rue having dropped Hall when the opener had made only 55.

De Bruyn then continued to rack up runs for the tourists and had made 83 before he fell to a catch by Rahul Dravid off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh in the evening session when he made contact with an outside edge when attempting to drive.

He had hit three sixes and six fours in an entertaining knock and had put on 60 with Pollock who had come to the crease when Hall departed.

Thami Tsolekile was unbeaten on five at the close as he played junior partner to Pollock, while Kumble’s figures of 5-116 off 50 overs made him the pick of the Indian bowlers by a long streak.