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HASHIM AMLA hit a marathon ton as South Africa took charge of the First Test at the Kia Oval.
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The Proteas No3 remains unbeaten on 183 in a knock that has lasted nine hours and 369 balls as South Africa closed on 403-2 — a lead of 18.
Graeme Smith was the other centurion on a torrid day for the hosts as he made a brutal 131 in his 100th Test match.
Tim Bresnan eventually dismissed Smith after the ball trickled on to the stumps off an inside edge and via a pad.
But that was to be England's only success of the day as Jacques Kallis joined Amla and hit an effortless 82 not out.
Smith and Amla put on 259 together against a home attack rendered toothless on a slow pitch.
The South Africa captain batted at a conspicuously uneven tempo, on the way to and beyond his seventh hundred against England and fifth in this country.
The slowest first 50 runs of his 10-year career came from 160 balls, but he then stepped on the accelerator to reach three figures from only 41 more deliveries when he cut Bresnan for his 16th four just before lunch.
By the time his chanceless innings was done he had been at the crease for more than six hours, kept out 272 balls and hit 20 fours.
Amla’s tour de force was often more pleasing on the eye and he reached his 15th hundred from 199 balls, having hit 13 fours.
Save for a half-chance to slip late yesterday on 40, his innings was without blemish — and Kallis’ 50 appeared an inevitability throughout the 94 balls required.
For the first time on home soil since Trent Bridge last year, Andrew Strauss’ team will trail significantly after the first innings.
Back then, Ian Bell’s big hundred put them back in charge on the way to a landslide win over India.
There is little time for that sort of outcome here, where the hosts will surely be grateful to grind out a draw to stay in position to defend their table-topping status in this short series.
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