PRETORIA — Hashim Amla's third double-ton for South Africa and Stiaan van Zyl's unbeaten century on debut against West Indies helped the host declare on 552 for five before rain brought an early end to day two of the first Test Thursday. A heavy downpour that started just after the Proteas' declaration some 30 minutes before tea meant no more play and an early 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) start Friday. It was a day to remember for Amla and Van Zyl, who are on opposite ends of spectrum in terms of Test experience but can be equally pleased with their efforts in helping South Africa to its massive total. Amla showed all of his famous powers of concentration and stamina to bat for almost eight hours in compiling 208 from 371 balls before he holed out to long-on off the bowling of left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn as the host tried to up the tempo. The impressive Van Zyl, long tipped as an international cricketer, grabbed his moment by smashing 15 boundaries to end the innings on 101 not out from 130 balls. He is the fifth South African to score a Test hundred on debut, but his total is far short of the record set by Jacques Rudolph of 222 not out against Bangladesh in 2003. The only other wicket to fall in another dominant day for South Africa was AB de Villiers, for 152, when he became a first victim in the Test for the luckless Benn when a thick outside edge was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at point. His dismissal ended a record fourth-wicket stand in Tests for South Africa of 308, the partnership with Amla digging the side out of trouble on the first morning when the host lost three quick wickets to slip to 57-3. — Reuters
