Saudi Awwal Bank inaugurates Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Centre for Native Plant Conservation and Propagation in partnership with Environmental Awareness Society    Saudi Ambassador to Ukraine presents credentials to President Zelenskyy    Cabinet underscores Saudi Arabia's significant progress in all fields    Viewing and printing vehicle data is now possible through Absher    Individual investment portfolios in Saudi stock market grows 12% to 12.7 million during 3Q 2024    Five things everyone should know about smoking    Israel confirms it killed Hamas leader Haniyeh in Tehran    Kosovo bars Serb party from vote over anti-independence stances    Russian forces make progress amid record-high losses across Ukraine's Donetsk region    Greenland again tells Trump it is not for sale    Emir of Madinah launches first phase of Madinah Gate project worth SR600 million    Saudi Arabia starts Gulf Cup 26 campaign with a disappointing loss to Bahrain    Gulf Cup: Hervé Renard calls for Saudi players to show pride    Oman optimistic about Al-Yahyaei's return for crucial Gulf Cup clash with Qatar    Qatar coach Garcia promises surprises as they seek first Gulf Cup 26 win    Abdullah Kamel unveils plans to launch halal certificate similar to ISO Value of global halal market exceeds $2 trillion    Do cigarettes belong in a museum    Marianne Jean-Baptiste on Oscars buzz for playing 'difficult' woman    PDC collaboration with MEDLOG Saudi to introduce new cold storage facilities in King Abdullah Port Investment of SR300 million to enhance logistics capabilities in Saudi Arabia    My kids saw my pain on set, says Angelina Jolie    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Cook hits century as South Africa dominates
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 12 - 2016

Stephen Cook hit a century as South Africa took control on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at St George's Park Wednesday.
South Africa was 351 for five at the close, an overall lead of 432 on a ground where no team has successfully chased more than 271 in the fourth innings.
In contrast to the first two days, when seam bowlers held sway, South Africa scored freely against a lackluster bowling attack on a pitch which seemed to have flattened out.
Cook made 117 to lead a powerful batting performance by the hosts. He shared century partnerships with Dean Elgar (52) and Hashim Amla (48).
Cook and Elgar put on 116 for the first wicket, their second three-figure opening stand of the match. Then Cook and Amla added 105 for the second wicket off only 118 balls as the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders wilted.
After two interruptions for rain, the playing hours were changed and South Africa scored 182 runs off 40 overs in an extended post-lunch period. They added another 131 off 29 overs before the close.
Cook, who made his third century in only seven Tests, survived a chance to gully off Suranga Lakmal when he was on 62, but played with more freedom than in previous appearances. He reached his fifty off 81 balls and his hundred off 152 deliveries.
He was out soon after tea when he edged an attempted cut against Dushmantha Chameera to be caught behind. His Test-best 117 was scored off 178 balls with 11 fours.
With Sri Lanka setting defensive fields, the South African batsmen were able to score plenty of singles and keep the score moving. They lost two more wickets, both to off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva, before captain Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock added an unbeaten 74 off 92 balls before the close.
An indication of the lack of control exerted by the Sri Lankan bowlers was that they only bowled three maiden overs during the innings, two of them by Lakmal, who added the wicket of Elgar to the five he collected in the first innings. But Lakmal, who bowled 27 overs in the first innings, seldom threatened Wednesday.
Sri Lanka was bowled out early in the day for 205, with Vernon Philander finishing with five for 45, losing its remaining three wickets for 24 runs.
Philander struck twice in the first over of the day after Sri Lanka resumed at 181 for seven. His first ball was a perfect out-swinger which De Silva edged to wicketkeeper De Kock. De Silva had batted impressively to make 43 Tuesday but Philander made the ball deviate just enough to catch the edge as De Silva played back defensively.
Lakmal hit a boundary but then chipped the final ball of the over to Kyle Abbott at mid-on.
Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep added 20 for the last wicket before Chameera edged Abbott to Amla at first slip after making a Test-best 19. Abbott finished with three for 63.


Clic here to read the story from its source.