KARACHI, Sept 27: A fine century partnership between Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla helped South Africa launch their tour of Pakistan on a satisfactory note in the warm-up match against the PCB Patron’s XI at the NBP Sports Complex here on Thursday.

The pair added 130 at almost a run-a-minute as the tourists ended the first day of the three-dayer at 294 for five in their first innings with both Amla and Kallis striking half-centuries.

Kallis, who resigned from the post of national vice-captain following his omission from the World Twenty20 tournament, eased his way to 73 while Amla fell 13 short of a century.

Kallis displayed some enthralling strokeplay that fetched him nine boundaries. An attempt to accelerate the scoring rate caused his demise, having hit two fours in three deliveries off young paceman Anwar Ali, the 31-year-old flicked one in the air to midwicket where Junaid Zia held a sharp, low catch.

Amla, who needed as many as 47 balls to reach double figures, blossomed to play a delightful innings of 87 runs off 155 balls with 10 fours and a brace of sixes off spinners Rizwan Ahmed and Zohaib Khan.Amla was also out while trying to loft leg-spinner Rizwan over the offside field, caught by Babar Naeem at deep cover.

The Proteas adopted a watchful approach at the start after Patron’s XI skipper Taufiq Umar invited the visitors to have the first use of an unfamiliar slow track. Not surprisingly, the opening session yielded 64 runs with both openers back in the pavilion.

Graeme Smith was outthought by Rizwan who had the tall South African skipper smartly stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed for a scratchy 20 made in 107 minutes. His 69-ball innings didn’t contain a single boundary.

Herschelle Gibbs (31 off 64 balls in 112 minutes, four fours) also looked out of sorts and provided the only chance of the day which was not availed when Junaid dropped a sitter at point off Anwar Ali when the 33-year-old had scored five. Gibbs then sliced a catch to point to give Junaid his reward for a probing spell.

After a barren afternoon session during which Kallis and Amla were on song, the Patron’s XI bounced back with three wickets in the post-tea period.

A.B. de Villiers, batting on 48 with six hits to the fence, and Mark Boucher (14) negotiated the final 16 overs without being separated.

Coach Mickey Arthur expressed his satisfaction at the first outing for his charges, who are still recovering the jetlag. “All the batters had quality time in the middle and that is more important than having nets. We are particularly pleased at the way the top four batted,” he commented. “Especially the way Kallis batted. He is a class act. Despite having played little cricket, he walked straight out in the middle and played as he usually does.”

Regrettably, the match was played in complete isolation as the complex was surrounded by a security blanket. The open spaces around the ground were covered by canopies so that no one from outside stood a chance to catch a glimpse of the action.

The teams agreed to play 12-a-side match at the request of the Proteas who head straight into the first Test at the National Stadium with just a rest day in between.

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