South Africa vs. West Indies, 1st Test: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

South Africa recovered from a shaky period to take control of the opening Test with West Indies at Centurion.

West Indies took three quick wickets early on the opening morning to leave South Africa tottering at 57-3, but a brilliant, unbroken partnership between AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla worth 283 took the Proteas to 340-3 at stumps.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
AN Petersen	c Smith b Roach	27	59	44
D Elgar	c Samuels b Cottrell	28	66	42
F du Plessis	c †Ramdin b Roach	0	13	8
HM Amla	Not Out	133		242
AB de Villiers	Not Out	141		211
Extras	(b 3, lb 4, w 2, nb 1)	10
Total	(3 wickets; 91 overs)	340
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
JE Taylor	16.1	2	77	0
SS Cottrell	17	1	74	1
KAJ Roach	15.5	4	52	2
SJ Benn	30	5	82	0
MN Samuels	11	0	45	0
KC Braithwaite	1	0	2	0

South Africa were put in to bat first, which looked a sensible move by West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin, given the overcast conditions.

However, Ramdin was let down early on by his opening bowlers, Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell, who lacked control.

South Africa raced to 50 inside 10 overs, and it was not until Kemar Roach—surprisingly overlooked for new-ball duty—was introduced that the fielding side found any control.

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Roach found a probing line outside off stump and was rewarded in his third over, as he caught the edge of Alviro Petersen’s bat and Devon Smith took a comfortable catch at first slip.

One brought two, as Dean Elgar suffered a lapse in concentration as he slapped a short ball from Cottrell to Marlon Samuels in the gully.

Elgar fell with the score on 57, and he was swiftly joined back in the hutch by Faf du Plessis. In his 100th match in international cricket, and with the score static, he again fell victim to the excellent line and length of Roach to record his first duck in top-flight cricket.

"

Faf du Plessis is out for a duck against Windies as a record streak finally comes to an end: http://t.co/EbmpzhTet6 pic.twitter.com/YZsUAzOjUH

— Sportskeeda Cricket (@SK__Cricket) December 17, 2014"

Du Plessis’ departure brought South Africa’s top two batsmen together. De Villiers and Amla steadied the ship in the period before lunch, and they accelerated as the innings developed.

"

You could watch Amla and AB bat all day. So easy on the eye. #SAvWI

— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) December 17, 2014"

De Villiers is ranked No. 2 in the world, Amla No. 6. That’s what West Indies were up against, and they did not have the artillery to counter.

Amla and De Villiers brought up their 50s in the period between lunch and tea and carried the momentum into the evening session.

Ten years on from his debut, De Villiers racked up his 20th ton in the longest form of the game and is on course to be remembered as one of the greats of all time.

"

AB de Villiers scores a century ten years to the day after he made his Test debut! History will remember him as one of the best of all time.

— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) December 17, 2014"

Amla joined De Villiers in passing three figures, as West Indies were made to toil. Salt was then rubbed in the wounds as Roach pulled up with a leg injury in the 68th over and was forced from the field of play, having been their most consistent bowler on the day.

If Roach's injury is as bad as it looked, West Indies could be in for considerable pain with only two fit seamers—and wayward ones, if the opening day is any guide—to call on.