Hashim Amla hit a maiden Test century as South Africa made virtually certain of earning a draw on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand at Newlands on Sunday.
Amla made 149 as South Africa reached 427 for five at the close of play in reply to New Zealand's first innings total of 593 for eight declared.
South Africa, who lead the three-match series 1-0, lost only three wickets on Sunday to make a draw the only likely result with one day left to play on a batsman-friendly pitch which has yielded 1020 runs for the loss of only 13 wickets in four days.
Amla, 23, was playing in his fourth Test.
A tall right-hander and a Muslim with special dispensation not to wear the logo of the beer company that sponsors the South African team, he played a chanceless innings.
He reached his century shortly before lunch when he drove left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori through the covers for his 12th boundary.
He had batted for 306 minutes and faced 242 balls.
{{/usCountry}}He had batted for 306 minutes and faced 242 balls.
{{/usCountry}}Amla, playing in place of the dropped Herschelle Gibbs, batted on through most of the afternoon before Daniel Vettori won a leg before wicket decision when Amla stretched forward to a ball which straightened.
His innings lasted 408 minutes and 317 balls. He hit 20 boundaries, driving fluently on the off-side and playing some wristy strokes to leg.
Scoreboard:
New Zealand 1st innings: 593-8 decl, South Africa 1st innings: G Smith c&b Patel 25, B Dippenaar b Patel 47, H Amla lbw Vettori 149, J Kallis c Martin b Oram 71, A Prince not out 70, A de Villiers c Papps b Patel 13, M Boucher not out 26, Extras: (b-15, lb-8, nb-3) 26, Total: (for 5 wkts in 151 overs) 427.
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-108, 3-252, 4-344, 5-361.
Bowling: Martin 14-4-47-0, Franklin 23-5-60-0, Vettori 48-5-123-1, Patel 39-7-112-3, Styris 10-2-33-0, Oram 15-9-20-1, Astle 2-0-9-0.