Amla stands in way of Indian victory at Eden Gardens
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Hashim Amla struck a fighting century as South Africa lost two wickets to reach 250 for seven in their second innings at tea on the fifth day of the second cricket Test against India here Thursday.
South Africa trail by 97 runs with Amla (106) and Wayne Parnell (22) looking to survive one more session to save the Test and win the series.
India, hampered by the absence of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan because of an injury to the left hander, got the wickets of Jean Paul Duminy and Dale Steyn in the post-lunch session. Amla and Parnell, however, defended well to put togther a 70-run partnership.
Harbhajan Singh took both the wickets, trapping Duminy and Steyn leg before wicket.
India would be ruing the dropped catch of Parnell. Ishant Sharma, bowling with the new ball, got the left hander to edge one but Suresh Raina at gully dropped an easy chance.
Amla, who has now struck one double century and two centuries in the series, was a picture of concentration, steering the South African innings. Amla played 289 balls and struck 14 fours.
He got good support from Parnell, who showed good defensive technique against the spinners and faced 56 balls, hitting four boundaries.
Earlier, South Africa lost Ashwell Prince (23) and AB de Villiers (3) in the morning session to reach 164 for five at lunch.
Resuming at 115 for three, Amla and Prince added 43 runs before Harbhajan struck.
Harbhajan set up Prince nicely before the left hander misread a well-flighted delivery and gave a simple catch to Ishant Sharma at mid-off. Prince played 80 balls for his 23 and struck one boundary.
De Villiers was foxed by a googly from Amit Mishra and was dismissed leg before.
