Amla ton aids Proteas

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Hashim Amla made an unbeaten century as South Africa enjoyed a profitable first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth.

Amla was dropped on 48 but was otherwise typically unruffled as he progressed to 106 not out by stumps, having added an unbroken 102 with Francois du Plessis to take the Proteas to 325 for four.

Du Plessis, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers also contributed well with 69 not out, 54 and 51 respectively, while Doug Bracewell was the most threatening bowler with 2-70 from 21 overs.

South Africa took the first Test by an innings inside three days and Smith won the toss as they looked for a 2-0 series success.

Rory Kleinveldt replaced the injured Vernon Philander while Colin Munro made his Test debut and Neil Wagner also came in, replacing injured duo Chris Martin and James Franklin.

Alviro Petersen inside-edged the first ball of the match, from Trent Boult, for a lucky four before Bracewell struck Smith a nasty blow on the helmet in the fourth over.

Hashim Amla advances towards his 106 not out of South Africa's strong 325 for four at Port Elizabeth on day one of the second Test

Petersen made 22 before being dismissed by Bracewell, top-edging a weak hook to Jeetan Patel at fine-leg.

Amla got away with a leading edge to his first delivery but Smith struck boundaries in successive Wagner overs.

A swept boundary by Amla brought up the Proteas' fifty and, though he was relieved to see a collection of edges drop safe, Smith also found the boundary several times before reaching his half-century in the second over of the afternoon session.

However, after adding just one more boundary, he gloved a ball from Wagner down the leg side and was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Jacques Kallis scored his only runs with back-to-back boundaries off Bracewell before edging the same bowler to Watling, but Amla reached a 92-ball half-century just two deliveries after being badly put down by Kane Williamson at gully.

AB de Villiers made a fluent start and, though he faced a confident lbw shout from Patel, he and Amla added 54 by tea.

Martin Guptill missed a chance to run out de Villiers two balls after the restart, allowing the wicketkeeper to press on towards his half-century.

He got there by taking seven off an over from Wagner, including his sixth four, but swatted Patel straight to Williamson at midwicket in the next over to end a stand of 86.

Du Plessis edged just short of slip via Watling’s pads but was quickly into his stride with the help of four overthrows from Boult and a boundary off Bracewell.

Amla also escaped a run-out threat as he moved into the 90s, and was happy to accumulate singles as du Plessis pushed the scoring along.

The latter was beaten all ends up by the last delivery before the new ball and then escaped when, on 42, Hot Spot showed he gloved Boult to Watling but New Zealand did not review the decision.

Amla reached a 187-ball ton with his eighth four and du Plessis brought up his fifty and the team’s 300 in even greater style with a huge six off Bracewell. He then added three more fours before the close.