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Amla fluent after SA lose their openers

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Lunch South Africa 94 for 2 (Amla 42*, Duminy 13*) v New Zealand
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Hashim Amla struck nine boundaries in the morning session © AFP

With a fast bowler showing his class and a top-order batsman saying “bring it” with every stroke, the first session of the first ever Test in August in Durban produced extremely watchable cricket. Trent Boult and Hashim Amla took centre stage following South Africa’s decision to bat, and after a thrust-and-parry contest the score was 94 for 2

The purists were spoiled. And so were those who liked a little drama, for Boult was slaying an old demon. Ever since a back injury in June 2015, he had looked a paler force. His average bobbed over 36, he leaked three runs an over, and some were worried he had lost his inswing. Considering a stress fracture to his back had threatened his career before it even began – he was set to make his Test debut as a 19-year old in Australia in 2009, instead he spent two years out of the game – Boult running in and hunting for the top of off stump at 140 kph was a pleasing sight. His eight overs included three maidens, plenty of jaffas, and the wicket of opener Stephen Cook.

In walked Amla. The ball cringed at the sight of him and hid beyond the boundary every chance it could. He looked in such ominous touch that his batting average of 18.62 at Kingsmead, his home ground, seemed like a computer error. He had contributed 40 of the 53 runs South Africa accumulated in the ten overs leading to lunch, favouring the cover drive. Five of his nine fours came in that region as New Zealand attempted to stay off his pads and ended up overcompensating.

Things were tougher at the start. Like freshmen at a college party, Cook and Dean Elgar had spent the first several minutes assessing conditions. They tried to keep to their little corner and hoped they eventually would feel comfortable enough to shake a leg or two. However, their own reluctance in coming onto the front foot led to their downfall.

New Zealand were allowed to bowl a fuller length under cloudy skies and Boult hit the perfect spot in the 14th over. Cook was caught in the crease, defending inside the line and with soft hands. Had that ball carried on with the angle, he would have been safe, but Boult brought it back in and claimed the edge. Quite unplayable.

Elgar was worked over in a similar manner by Doug Bracewell, who switched around the wicket to draw the batsman into pushing outside his off stump and edging to second slip. Kane Williamson at gully put his head down and clapped his hands hard. He had said his bowlers had to be “creative” to get their wickets in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago. Nothing of that sort was required in Kingsmead, where the red ball swung just enough to play on the nerves of a top order that hadn’t played Test cricket in seven months.

Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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