Eventful day for Proteas at Taunton

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Cricket365
July 9, 2012

It was a mixed opening day for South Africa in their two-day warm-up match against Somerset at Taunton as a serious injury to Mark Boucher overshadowed proceedings.

Wicketkeeper Boucher is set to undergo emergency exploratory surgery on his left eye after a ball ricocheted off the stumps and hit him in the face.

He was immediately taken to hospital for X-rays with AB de Villiers taking over from him behind the stumps.

Although all thoughts will be with Boucher, the Proteas' bowlers had a tough workout on Monday as Somerset duo Peter Trego and James Hildreth hit back for the hosts following a poor start.

Somerset won the toss and elected to bat first and they were in heaps of trouble at 32 for four with Arul Suppiah, Alex Burrow, Nick Compton and Jos Buttler all back in the hut cheaply.

It was left to Trego and Hildreth to put their side back on track with a brilliant 183-run fifth-wicket partnership.

The 31-year-old Trego in particular was brutal as he smashed a century from just 60 balls with 18 fours and one six while Hildreth's hundred came in 124 balls.

Trego, though, fell for 104 as he hit swing bowler Vernon Philander to Jacques Kallis while Lonwabo Tsostobe accounted for Hildreth's wicket.

Craig Meschede added an unbeaten 50 from 67 balls before Somerset eventually declared their innings on 312 for eight.

Tsostobe was the best of the South African bowlers with three wickets for 46 runs in eight overs.

Graeme Smith and opening partner Jacques Rudolph were no doubt hoping to spend as much time in the middle, but both fell early.

South Africa captain Smith edged Gemaal Hussain behind when on 10 and fellow left-hander Rudolph departed in similar fashion for five off the bowling of Jamie Overton.

Hashim Amla (34 not out) and Jacques Kallis (unbeaten on 45) settled the nerves with a stand of 81 to help the visitors to close on 92 for two.