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Page last updated at 21:24 GMT, Friday, 18 June 2010 22:24 UK

South Africa make strong start against Windies

Second Test, day one, St Kitts:
South Africa 295-3 (86 overs) v West Indies
Match scorecard


South Africa captain Graeme Smith
Smith powered his way to another century for South Africa

South Africa captain Graeme Smith hit 132 to help put his side into a good position against the West Indies on day one of the second Test in St Kitts.

Smith and Alviro Petersen shared an opening stand of 99 before Petersen was dismissed for 52 by Shane Shillingford.

Off-spinner Shillingford also bowled Hashim Amla for 44 before Kemar Roach got rid of Smith after tea.

But Jacques Kallis (45 not out) and AB de Villiers (seven not out) guided the Proteas safely until the close.

It was the 21st Test century for 29-year-old Smith, who also became the third South African to reach 7,000 Test runs when he had scored 88.

"Confidence is a crucial thing in this game, and I have been working hard through the limited-overs matches, following the lengthy break I had with a broken finger," he said.

"It has taken me some time to get the feel back in the game, even though it still hinders me a little bit, but it's had some ice now, and it feels much better now that I have got some big runs on the board."

The visitors won the toss on a good batting pitch but the hosts were let down by their fielding and dropped three catches.

Smith and Petersen gave South Africa the perfect start with Petersen passing his half-century first, thanks to three fours and two sixes.

606: DEBATE

But he top-edged a sweep off Shillingford and Roach held a brilliant catch at deep square leg.

South Africa continued to dominate after the interval as Smith and Amla added 112 for the second wicket.

But Windies captain Chris Gayle dropped Amla on 14 and then Smith then had a let-off on 79, when his sweep off Shillingford was spilled by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at square leg.

Smith arrived at his seventh century against West Indies just before tea but the Windies soon got a breakthrough when Amla edged Shillingford low to first slip with the score on 211.

Smith survived another scare after tea when on 112 and Kallis had helped extend the third-wicket partnership to 72 when Smith dragged a tired pull back on to his stumps to give Roach a wicket.

Kallis, who passed Australia's Steve Waugh to become sixth on the all-time run-scorers' list during his innings, hit three fours and a six as he closed in on another half century.

He and de Villiers held firm as light rain and bad light forced play to end 15 minutes early.



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see also
South Africa crush poor Windies
13 Jun 10 |  Cricket
Steyn and Morkel destroy Windies
12 Jun 10 |  Cricket
Benn haul gives West Indies hope
11 Jun 10 |  Cricket
SA edge past Windies in thriller
03 Jun 10 |  Cricket
South Africa in West Indies 2010
13 Jun 10 |  Cricket


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