TNI Bureau: Hashim Amla, who has been the backbone of the South African cricket in the last few years, has achieved the distinction of being the first South African cricketer to hit a triple hundred in Test cricket. Amla broke the record of AB de Villiers, who had scored 278*.

Amla scored the triple ton in the first test match against England at the Oval, London. He remained unbeaten on 311 off 529 balls. Amla hit 35 boundaries.

South Africa is on verge of winning the first test match. England had scored 385 in the first innings. South Africa declared their first innings at 637/2. England were 102/4 in the second innings at the end of Day 4. South Africa need 6 more wickets to win this match. England still need 150 runs to avoid an innings defeat.