Faf du Plessis completes century as South Africa go past 500 at Tea

Port Elizabeth: Jan 12, 2013

South Africa's Faf du Plessis scored his second Test century as South Africa went past 500 on Day Two of the second Test against New Zealand at Port Elizabeth.

Du Plessis, who went into lunch at 99, completed his ton in the first over after lunch in the company of Dean Elgar as the New Zealand bowlers failed to break the partnership early on. The duo put on 131 runs for sixth wicket before he was dismissed on 137 by Colin Munro to give New Zealand the much needed breakthrough.

Elgar, who had a disastrous start to his Test career with a pair in his first Test, is batting on 91.

South Africa lost another wicket before Tea as Munro struck again to send Robin Peterson back to the pavilion, bringing Dale Steyn to the crease.

At Tea, Elgar was batting on 91, only 9 runs short of his first Test century with Dale Steyn for company as they took the South African total to 505 for seven.

Earlier, Du Plessis was unbeaten on 99 as South Africa reached 390 for five in the first session.

Du Plessis and Hashim Amla (110) continued from an overnight score of 325 for four and put together 113 runs for the fifth wicket, but it took just eight overs on Day Two for New Zeland to send Amla back as he knicked a delivery that was on his leg side to give a simple catch to wicketkeeper John Watling off the bowling of Trent Boult.

At this stage, South Africa was 336 for five with youngster Elgar joining du Plessis at the crease.

The Kiwis would’ve hoped to clean up the rest of the South African line-up in a jiffy, but this duo held on as they put on an unbeaten stand of 54 runs for the sixth wicket when the teams went in for lunch.

Brief Scores: South Africa 505 for 7 (Faf du Plessis 137, Hashim Amla 110, Dean Elgar 91*; Doug Bracewell 2 for 85) vs New Zealand

Full Scorecard

Photo Gallery