'Chocolate did the trick'

 
“Losing four wickets is never a good thing. But considering we were put in and there was a little juice in the wicket and given the overhead conditions, we're in a good space,” said Amla, who made an attacking 59.

It was hard work for the batsmen, Amla went on. “There was a lot in it for the fast bowlers early on,” he noted. “If you hit a decent length, there was a lot of swing and a bit of nip. There's still a fair covering of grass on it. The ball is 70 overs old and it's still nipping. The wicket will be challenging but there I suppose it will get better for batting if the sun comes out.”

A rare rush of blood resulted in Amla’s dismissal, shortly after S Sreesanth had a verbal go at him. “I had a couple of chocolates, it was the sugar high more than anything!” Amla quipped. “I felt like I could exert some pressure on the bowlers but just a top-edge. There were no words exchanged, I didn't say anything back!”

Jacques Kallis, Amla said, held the key to the South African first innings. “Jacques has probably been the key to our team for 15 years now. On a testing wicket, there's always going to be playing and missing. But his technique is sound and his temperament very good. He showed his class today, kept the innings together and played really well.”