Amla, De Villiers boost South Africa

CENTURION, South Africa, Dec 19 (Reuters) - South Africa declared their second innings on 301 for seven, a lead of 363 runs, after tea on the fourth day of the first test against England at Centurion on Saturday.

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared a century partnership and regained the initiative for South Africa on the fourth day of the first Test against England at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

South Africa were 182 for five at tea, an overall lead of 244. Each of England’s fast bowlers claimed a wicket as South Africa lost three wickets for 37 runs at the start of the day after resuming on nine for one.

But Amla (76 not out) and De Villiers (64) put on 119 for the fifth wicket with some enterprising batting.

James Anderson struck in the third over of the day when nightwatchman Paul Harris was bowled off his thigh pad for 11.

South African captain Graeme Smith never looked comfortable against accurate bowling by Anderson and Graham Onions on a pitch of unpredictable bounce and he fell to Onions five overs later when he pushed forward defensively and was bowled off an inside edge for 12.

First innings century maker Jacques Kallis made only four before he pulled Stuart Broad to Alastair Cook on the square leg boundary.

Amla and De Villiers both survived unsuccessful calls for review by the television umpire after leg before wicket appeals by off-spinner Graeme Swann and Onions were turned down. It meant that England had used up both their options for reviews during the innings.

De Villiers in particular made light of tricky batting conditions as the pair posted a century partnership off 164 balls.

De Villiers made his runs off 101 balls with six fours and a six before he was caught by a diving Ian Bell at short cover when he drove uppishly at Broad.

		SOUTH AFRICA 1ST INNINGS								
418 (J. Kallis 120, J-P. Duminy 56; G. Swann 5-110).

		ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 356
(P. Collingwood 50, G. Swann 85; P. Harris 5-123), 

	South Africa second innings 
		(overnight 9-1).

A. Prince b Anderson 		 00
G. Smith b Onions 		 12
P. Harris b Anderson 		 11
H. Amla b Anderson 		100
J. Kallis c Cook b Broad 	 04
A. de Villiers c Bell b Broad 	 64
J.P. Duminy lbw b Anderson 	 11
M. Boucher not out 		 63
M. Morkel not out 		 22
Extras (lb-10, w-4) 		 14
Total (7 wickets declared) 	301

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-2 2-20 3-34 4-46 5-165 6-191 7-266

BOWLING: Anderson 20.5-1-73-4, Onions 16-3-50-1, Broad
	16-5-58-2 (2w), Swann 27-3-91-0, Collingwood 6-1-19-0