Duminy, Amla post century partnership in third Sri Lanka Test

Johannesburg (AFP) - JP Duminy and Hashim Amla shared a century partnership as South Africa recovered from a double blow on the first day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.

South Africa were 193 for two at tea after deciding to bat on a well-grassed pitch in overcast conditions.

Duminy was on 87 not out, while Amla, playing in his 100th Test, was unbeaten on 50.

The pair added 148 runs after coming together when both opening batsmen, Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar, were dismissed within six balls when the total was on 45.

The left-handed Duminy was the dominant partner as he shepherded a struggling Amla early in the stand.

Amla was dropped by Dhananjaya de Silva at gully off Suranga Lakmal when he had five and only scored six in the pair's first 50 runs together.

Gradually, though, Amla found his timing and he reached his first half-century in 11 Test matches shortly before tea. He had faced 109 balls and hit seven fours.

Duminy, by contrast, cruised to his half-century off 62 balls with ten boundaries and had faced 127 deliveries, adding three more fours, by tea.

Cook and Elgar survived the first hour before both were out soon after the mid-morning drinks break.

Sri Lanka celebrate the wicket of South Africa opening batsman Dean Elgar (not shown) during the third Test at Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg on January 12, 2017

Cook, playing in a Test on his home ground for the first time, was leg before wicket to Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews for ten. He sought a review of umpire Bruce Oxenford's decision but was palpably in front of his stumps.

In the next over Elgar, on 27, pushed at a lifting delivery from Lahuri Kumara and was caught at first slip by Dimuth Karunaratne.

South Africa opted for an all-pace attack and gave a first cap to Duanne Olivier, 24, with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj being left out.

Left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell replaced Kyle Abbott, whose contract with Cricket South Africa was cancelled after he revealed he had signed a Kolpak contract to play English county cricket with Hampshire.