Smith and Amla put Proteas in control

Graeme Smith
12 April 2012

Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla piled on the punishment for England to set up a series-levelling platform on day three of the third Test at Newlands.

Nothing went right for England's hard-working attack as they wilted in the 100 degree-plus heat - and South Africa took advantage in a record second-wicket stand of 230 out of 312 for two at stumps.

Smith's eventual share of the proceeds was an unbeaten 162 from 243 balls, with England toiling under cloudless skies, while Amla (95) struck 10 fours in his first 50 runs.

Ashwell Prince survived one faulty caught-behind decision off James Anderson, on review, then was rightly dispatched when he queried another - lbw to Graeme Swann.

Smith came through a saga of reviews and non-reviews for lbw against the England off-spinner, as well as a clutch of other scrapes - with short-leg, wicketkeeper and slip always interested in the early stage of his innings as he tried to make sure Swann did not settle.

The South Africa captain gradually ground England into submission, then upped the ante after tea on his way to and beyond three figures for the 19th time as his partnership with Amla beat the previous Test highest for the wicket at this venue.

Amla made most of his gains from the pace bowlers - picking up regular boundaries behind square on the off-side, with no third-man in place.

He had lost some momentum, though, by the time Swann finally broke through again via a bat-pad catch.

Even then, no respite ever came for England - whose day was summed up shortly before the close when an outstanding reaction catch by a diving Paul Collingwood at slip was ruled irrelevant as the third umpire concluded Jacques Kallis, on 12, had not made contact with an attempted sweep at Swann in the first place.

When Morne Morkel had taken two wickets in two balls in the first over of the day, it seemed certain England - having begun on 241 for seven - would concede an awkward first-innings deficit. But thanks to Prior (76), who dominated a last-wicket stand of 32 with Onions, they narrowed the margin to only 18 on 273 all out.

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