Centurion Test: Century makers Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla put South Africa on top

Centurion Debutant Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla shared a double century partnership for South Africa before England fought back on the first day of the fourth and final Test at SuperSport Park on FridayCook made 115 and Amla hit 109 in a South Africa total of 329 for five at the close of play The pair put on 202 for the second wicket before Amlas dismissal sparked a collapse in which four wickets including that of Cook fell for 36 runsTemba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock restored South Africas advantage with an unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 56 Cook called up at the age of 33 when the South African selectors finally opted for a specialist opening batsman to partner Dean Elgar was calm and organised from the start of his 218ball innings during which he hit 14 boundariesAmla four months younger than Cook but 91 matches richer in Test experience was back to his fluent best as he reached his century off 131 deliveries with 18 fours He hit one more four before he was bowled off an inside edge by Ben Stokes Cook was on 97 when Amla was dismissed and was still two short of his century when AB de Villiers was caught at second slip off Stuart Broad for his second duck in three innings since being appointed captainCook went to his century off 187 balls when he tucked Stokes through midwicket for two and added 15 more runs before edging a ball from Chris Woakes into his stumps JP Duminy followed soon afterwards when he missed a pull shot against Ali and was leg before wicket on 16 In contrast to his father Jimmy who was dismissed first ball on his Test debut against India in 199293 Stephen Cook scored four off the first ball he faced a leg side half volley from James AndersonJimmy Cook who was in the crowd on Friday had to wait until the age of 39 to make his official Test debut after being a prolific scorer for South Africa in 19 unofficial rebel Tests during South Africas political isolation including a hundred on debut against an English team in 198182 Cook was the sixth South African to make a hundred on debut and the 100th in all Test matchesA freak catch by James Taylor at short leg was Englands only success before tea after South Africa won the toss and decided to bat Elgar and Cook put on 35 for the first wicket before Elgar was caught by Taylor off Moeen Ali for 20 when the offspinner was brought into the attack in the 11th over Elgar went for a pull shot and Taylor took avoiding action but the ball lodged between his legs and he was able to grab hold of it before it touched the groundAmla was dropped on five when he edged Stokes low to first slip where skipper Alastair Cook possibly obscured by diving wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow put down the chance Cook had a life on 47 when Bairstow again dived in front of his captain Cook and spilled a difficult chance off Broad Cook who had hit 35 firstclass centuries including a South African record score of 390 was one of five changes from the South African side beaten by seven wickets in the third Test in Johannesburg last weekHe was picked ahead of Stiaan van Zyl and Duminy replaced Faf du Plessis while offspinner Dale Piedt and seamer Kyle Abbott came in for Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen De Kock returned after injury to keep wicket in place of Dane Vilas Woakes replaced the injured Steven Finn in the only change in the England team England hold a winning 20 lead in the series