Centurion: South African captain Hashim Amla hit his third Test double century and Stiaan van Zyl made a hundred on debut before rain brought a premature end to the second day of the first Test on Thursday.


Stiaan van Zyl celebrates his ton yesterday. Pic:AP/PTI 

Amla made 208 and the left-handed Van Zyl hit an unbeaten 101 as South Africa piled up 552 for five declared. But rain swept across SuperSport Park soon after the declaration, preventing a start to the West Indies first innings and denying Amla the chance to make inroads into the tourists' batting. "I wanted to get in 35 or 36 overs (to bowl) before the close," said Amla.