Amla, De Villiers do it again for South Africa

Captain Hashim Amla and his senior lieutenant AB de Villiers have both chalked up centuries as South Africa took command on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies.

South Africa were 3-340 at the close on Wednesday with Amla, captaining South Africa for the first time in a home Test, on 133 not out, and De Villiers unbeaten on 141.

They added 283 for the fourth wicket, a South African record against the West Indies.

The pair came together with South Africa in a minor crisis after losing three wickets for no runs with the total on 57 after being sent in to bat.

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Faf du Plessis was an early Roach wicket as the West Indies made all the early running // Getty Images

Much of the bowling was mediocre and the tourists suffered a blow when Kemar Roach, who was comfortably their best bowler with figures of 2-52, pulled up lame after bowling five balls of his 16th over half an hour after tea.

Roach, who was surprisingly not given the new ball, made the first breakthrough in his third over when he had Alviro Petersen caught at first slip and followed up with the wicket of Faf du Plessis, who was caught behind.

Roach's wickets sandwiched the dismissal of Dean Elgar, who was caught at gully off left-armer Sheldon Cottrell. The three wickets fell in the space of 15 balls.

"It is difficult bowling to (Amla and de Villiers)," Cottrell said.

"They are experienced, they play spin and pace very well and they are playing on their home ground."

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Amla's 23rd Test century came off 161 balls and featured 17 boundaries // Getty Images

Rain delayed the start by half an hour and the sky was overcast for almost the entire day but with the exception of Roach, the bowlers were not consistent enough to exploit any assistance from the conditions.

After the early setbacks, Amla and De Villiers saw their team through to lunch, adding 45 runs before the break with largely risk-free batting, but their stroke play blossomed after the interval

De Villiers became the fifth South African to score 20 Test centuries after facing 138 balls, while Amla's 23rd hundred came off 161 deliveries.