Petersen, Amla, Kallis Give South Africa Day One Honours

Petersen, Amla, Kallis Give South Africa Day One Honours

Hashim Amla (centre) and Jacques Kallis (right) scored half-centuries on day one in Brisbane. Australian captain Michael Clarke can do no more than applaud them on a job well done.

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South Africa 255-2 (Amla 90no) v Australia
First Test, Brisbane, day one
Scorecard
More: Pattinson: No Excuses  | Duminy Injured

Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis scored half-centuries to take South Africa to a score of 255 for two on the opening day of the first Test against Australia in Brisbane.

The tourists overcame the early departure of Graeme Smith for 10 to dominate proceedings thanks to a 136-run unbroken third-wicket partnership between Kallis and Amla.

Petersen and Amla had earlier added 90 for the second wicket having come together when Graeme Smith was trapped in front by James Pattinson.

South Africa opted for an all-pace attack, handing Rory Kleinveldt a debut, winning the toss and batting first. They made a solid start, Australia wasting an early review, and the score was on 29 when Smith was trapped leg before. This time, Australia made excellent use of the review to overturn Billy Bowden's original 'not out' decision.

Then Petersen, who made 64 in 127 balls, and Amla came together and batted well into the afternoon session having coasted to lunch on 90 for one. Petersen was tested early, but came through to hit seven fours - the pick of them a pull and an on-drive -  before falling to Nathan Lyon, offering Michael Hussey a catch at mid-on, beaten by the flight and a touch of extra bounce.

There would be no more joy for Australia as Amla and Kallis - a pair who have a habit of forging large, match-changing partnerships, saw out the rest of the day, adding 96 runs in the afternoon and 69 in the evening.

Kallis' only misjudgement came soon after tea when he was caught by Lyon having sponned Siddle into the air only to be reprieved by the third umpire who had spotted that Siddle had delivered a no ball. It would have made the score 192 for three and greatly changed the complexion of the day.

Amla was relatively circumspect, reaching 90 in 207 balls with six fours - one of which brought up his half-century in 108 deliveres - and a six while Kallis played freely, making 84 in 135 deliveries with eight fours and a six.

Amla passed his 5,000th Test run prior to tea and the pair proved adept at both punishing anything too short or overpitched as well as working the balls into the gaps, constantly frustrating Australia by rotating the strike and not allowing pressure to build.

As the home side searched for a breakthrough, Australian debutant Rob Quiney bowled six economical overs of medium pace and Hussey also got through four overs but this was South Africa's day.

The only downside for the Proteas was a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered by JP Duminy following the conclusion of the day's play during South Africa's warm-down.

He has been ruled out of the tour and could face as long as six months on the sidelines.

© Cricket World 2012