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South Africa vs West Indies 2014, 1st Test Day 1 at Centurion: South Africa 340 for 3 at stumps

Catch the live cricket score and live updates of Day One of the first Test.

Hashim Amla will lead South Africa in his first Test at home © Getty Images
Hashim Amla is leading South Africa in his first Test at home © Getty Images

Dec 17, 2014

Click here for the live scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the 1st Test between South Africa and West Indies

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the first Test between South Africa and the West Indies at Centurion. West Indies get back to international cricket following their controversial exit from the tour to India. Under the leadership of Denesh Ramdin, West Indies would be looking forward to a recovery in the middle. Keeping the off-field issues out and focus on the field may be a challenge. However, they have to put their mind to the task and come to the fore. On the other hand, Hashim Amla leads a fantastic side that is rampaging at home, and he begins his captaincy on home soil.

I am Ankur Dhawan and will take you through this game. Click here to read our preview.

 

 

The pair of AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla batted through to stumps with score reading an imposing 340 for three. In the process the duo have also registered the highest fourth wicket partnership for South Africa, standing on an unbeaten 283. The visitors were handicapped with the injury to Kemar Roach as they couldn’t even take the second new ball.

 

 

 

 


 

South Africa have surpassed the 300-run mark with AB de VIlliers and Hashim Amla still at the crease. The pair has added in excess of 250 for the fourth wicket, which is a record for South Africa as it stands. The second new ball is due, which could be the visitors final throw of the dice but their body language seems extremely discouraging. By the looks of it they are at the mercy of the South African captain to declare the innings, which may not happen till tea tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

The West Indies bowlers got a hammering in the post lunch sessions. The trend has continued in the final session of play. AB de Villiers has brought up his 20th Test ton in the meantime.The landmark was also his fifth against the West Indies. Hashim Amla is closing in on his hundred as well. South Africa are running the West Indies ragged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

AB de Villiers and Hashim amla’s exquisite stroke play has put South Africa in complete command of the Test leading into tea. Both AB and Amla have scored boundaries with consummate ease. Both surpassed their respective half centuries on either side of the drinks break. AB was first to get there but Amla hasn’t been left behind, matching him shot for shot and is in fact out scoring him at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

The second session has mirrored the beginning of the first session thus far. Both AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla have pounced on anything loose dished out by the West Indies. The bowling has looked largely docile but that may be a reflection of the nature of the pitch. All the moisture seems to have evaporated and if the visitors don’t strike soon they could be in for a leather hunt as the day proceeds.

 

 

 

 


 

The West Indies assumed a position of slight ascendency at the conclusion of the first session. It was a combative session which saw the pendulum swing consistently. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers are at the crease and looking good for South Africa. The visitors will strive to make inroads early into the second session or risk the match quickly slipping from their grasp.Kemar Roach was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with two crucial wickets to his credit. Hashim Amla has looked in fluent touch, where as De Villiers has been circumspect going into lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

West Indies have clawed back into the match courtesy three wickets in quick succession. Kemar Roach has accounted for two of the three wickets. AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla are in for an uncomfortable little period leading into lunch.

 

 

 

 


 

Kemar Roach draws first blood for the West Indies and restores some sanity into the proceedings. Roach induced an edge from Alviro Petersen who played for the ball angled in, he nicked it to first slip as it left him at the very last instant.
OUT A Petersen c Smith b Roach

 

 

 

 


Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell have missed their mark with great regularity. As a result the Proteas have raced past 50 in the blink of an eye. Although the Centurion pitch has offered assistance, the movement hasn’t been quick, allowing the batsmen to adjust their stroke at the last instant. West Indies may already be ruing their decision to bowl. The signs are ominous as the South African openers are well set and the pitch expected to flatten out.

 

 

 

 

 


 

There is movement on offer for the West Indies bowlers but they seem to be getting carried away and trying too hard as opposed to being patient on a responsive surface. Jerome Taylor has strayed onto Alviro Petersen’s pads consistently which petersen has taken full toll off. Petersen has come into this Test match under the pump for the lack of runs in the previous year. South Africa have raced to 24 for no loss in four overs.

 

 

 

 


 

Teams:

South Africa: Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (C), Ab De Villiers, Stiaan Van Zyl, Quinton de Kock (W), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and  Kyle Abbott.

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (C&W) , Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell and Suliman Benn.

 

 


 

West Indies have won the toss and elected to bowl. The showers preceding the game may have influenced the decision and the fear the trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander can instill into the mind of the opposition that pushes them on the defensive. But essentially they’d like to utilize the early help traditionally offered by the pitch at centurion which flattens out as the match progresses.


Heavy rainfall in lead up to the First Test between South Africa and West Indies at Centurion has resulted in a 30 minute toss delay. There are thunderstorms forecast for each of the five days of the Test in the Highveld.


Squads:

South Africa: Hashim Amla (c), Alviro Peterson, Dean Elgar, AB Devilliers, Faf  Duplessis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson, Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, Stiaan Van Zyl, Kagiso Rabada.

West Indies: Denesh Ramdin (c&wk), Devon Smith, Leon Johnson, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Assad Fuddadin, Jermaine Blackwood, Chadwick Walton (wk), Sulieman Benn, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.

Click here for the live scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the 1st Test between South Africa and West Indies

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