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Amla floors India with a double century

Hashim Amla posted his first test double century on Sunday to flatten India’s insipid attack on the second day of the opening test.

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The 26-year-old Amla remained unbeaten on 215 after helping South Africa reach a commanding first-innings score of 477 for five at tea at Nagpur’s VCA Stadium.

The number three batsman shared in a 108-run fourth wicket stand with AB de Villiers (53) after taking his overnight partnership with Jacques Kallis (173) to 340 to put the tourists in the driver’s seat.

Mark Boucher, yet to get off the mark, was at the crease with Amla, 115 overnight, after Kallis, De Villiers and JP Duminy (9) were dismissed by spinners on a pitch that had started to offer turn and bounce to spinners.

Amla’s marathon effort enabled South Africa to recover after losing both openers for six runs and has offered the chance to set up a rare series victory on Indian soil.

Kallis, 159 overnight, was denied a first double century when caught at short leg by Murali Vijay off off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after the tourists resumed at 291-2.

Amla was dropped on 149 by Vijay at short-leg off Harbhajan who bowled an attacking line after playing a restrictive role on the opening day.

Wristy De Villiers hit five fours in his breezy fifty before an ambitious drive off part-time spinner Virender Sehwag resulted in a catch at point to debutant Subramaniam Badrinath.

Amla, who has given South Africa a platform to wrest back the top ranking from India, stroked 20 fours in his brilliant knock.

Harbhajan took his second wicket when he had Duminy lbw just before tea as India tried to claw back into the game.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra went wicketless despite bowled superbly to beat the batsmen time and again.

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