CENTURION, South Africa (AP):

AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla plundered centuries for South Africa as the West Indies made poor use of favourable bowling conditions on day one of the first cricket Test at Centurion yesterday.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl on the back of some morning rain, the West Indies only once managed to spark, with Kemar Roach inspiring a mid-morning frenzy that saw South Africa lose three wickets without adding a run.

Erratic bowling allowed Amla and De Villiers to take complete control thereafter, and they batted out the rest of the day in an unbroken 283-run partnership that carried the Proteas to the close of play on 340-3.

De Villiers reached stumps on 141 while Amla was 133 not out. They will have the opportunity to extend a record partnership for the fourth wicket for South Africa, having already surpassed Jacques Kallis' and Gary Kirsten's against the same opposition in 2003.

The day's play was delayed by half an hour because of the wet conditions, giving the West Indies a chance to make early inroads after captain Denesh Ramdin had called correctly at the toss.

He handed the new ball to Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell, but the fast-bowling pair wasted the opportunity as South Africa openers Alviro Petersen and Dean Elgar raced to 57 without loss.