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South Africa vs West Indies 2014, 1st Test at Centurion: Hashim Amla’s double-century and other statistics

South Africa dominated the proceedings of the second day of the opening Test against West Indies at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday. Not only did they consolidate on their overnight score, there were multiple milestones achieved by the batsmen from the home team. Amit Banerjee throws light upon some of those milestones achieved/bettered.… Continue reading South Africa vs West Indies 2014, 1st Test at Centurion: Hashim Amla’s double-century and other statistics

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Hashim Amla’s (left) double ton against West Indies at Centurion was his first in South Africa © Getty images

South Africa dominated the proceedings of the second day of the opening Test against West Indies at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday. Not only did they consolidate on their overnight score, there were multiple milestones achieved by the batsmen from the home team. Amit Banerjee throws light upon some of those milestones achieved/bettered.

It was a bad day in the office for a depleted West Indian bowling attack, who let South Africa cross the 500-run mark with half of the visitors’ side left to bat on the Day Two of the opening Test at Centurion. The performance must not have occurred as a matter of surprise for anyone, given the stark contrast in the Test rankings of the two teams and their recent performances, with the Proteas currently occupying the top-spot on the Test ladder.

The mainstay for the South African run-fest was their stalwart Hashim Amla, who scored his third Test double-century to steer his side to a position of utter dominance aside from scoring the second-highest number of double-centuries by a South African batsman. Amla added 208 runs to his Test career tally before getting dismissed. His innings included 22 fours.
The following list the South African batsmen with most double-centuries in Test cricket:
The list contains batsmen with three or more double-centuries

Player Tests Runs 200s Highest Career Span
Graeme Smith 117 9,265 5 277 2002-2014
Gary Kirsten 101 7,289 3 275 1993-2004
Hashim Amla 79 6,415 3 311 2004-Present

 

Amla, in the process, also produced the highest score by a South African captain on home soil. Amla first skippered the side during the away Test series against Sri Lanka, which his side won 1-0. Following is the list of scores, which illustrate it further:

Player Tests Runs Score Career Span
Hashim Amla 79 6,415 208 2004-Present
Graeme Smith 101 7,289 183 2002-2014
Herbie Taylor 42 2,936 176 1912-1932
Graeme Smith 101 7,289 157 2002-2014
Graeme Smith 101 7,289 147 2002-2014

The batting performance has left the Proteas in charge of the match,the onus now is on the bowlers to to take advantage of the position they are in. South Africa, in the meantime, had declared on a score of 552 for five at tea on the second day. A couple of early West Indian wickets, would have capped off a fantastic day for the hosts but it wasn’t to be as play was called off early due to incessant rain.

(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)

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