Hashim Amla treated the Grace Road crowd to a display of superb batting as he recorded his second century in three County Championship matches for Essex against Leicestershire, scoring 118 as the visitors closed the day on 294-4.

The South African Test player joined the county two weeks ago as a temporary overseas replacement while Danish Kaneria is on duty with Pakistan in Sri Lanka.

But his arrival has coincided with an upturn in the county’s batting performances. This is expected to be the 26-year-old’s last appearance in an Essex sweater with Kaneria set to return imminently, but the batsman ensured that he would mark the occasion in style.

The elegant right-hander produced a number of splendidly-timed drives including three offside boundaries in one over from Harry Gurney as he stroked his way to a 137-ball century that included 15 boundaries, although he was given a reprieve on 46 when he was dropped at first slip by James Allenby off the bowling of Iain O’Brien.

But two deliveries later, Amla produced a back-foot cover drive to reach his half-century to compound the New Zealand bowler’s frustration.

Although a prompt start was made after the first day had been completely lost to the weather, just one ball had been bowled when the first of three rain interruptions came along, which altogether took 10 overs off the day’s intended total.

Having won the toss, Leicestershire soon struck the first blow when O’Brien removed Varun Chopra leg before for five with a ball of full length in the fifth over of the day.

Subsequent rewards for the attack were to prove infrequent despite the regular bowling changes, with Amla dictating matters.

He joined John Maunders in a partnership worth 133 for the second wicket before the former Leicestershire opener overcame a tentative start to complete a 91-ball half-century that included seven fours before departing for 56 when he edged a James Taylor delivery to give wicketkeeper Tom New the first of two catches.

Having been joined by Matt Walker in a third-wicket stand worth 69 that advanced the total onto 212, Amla’s innings came to a disappointing conclusion after three hour and 19 minutes at the crease when he chased a delivery of width from Allenby and was caught behind.

Although Mark Pettini was bowled by slow left-armer George Walker for 24, Matt Walker took advantage of the slow wicket to return to form, hitting an unbeaten 67, only his second half-century for the county since joining from Kent during the winter, before bad light then rain forced a premature end to play.