21 March, 2009

Centuries from Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince helped South Africa reach stumps on day two of the third Test against Australia in a position of total command at 3-404.

The tourists managed three wickets on a one-sided second day in Cape Town as the home side made rapid progress against their below-par opponents, who were dismissed for just 209 on day one.

Makeshift opener Prince was undoubtedly the star with his 150, while captain Kallis was also instrumental reaching the close unbeaten on 102.

With him was AB de Villiers on 39 not out, with the pair seeing their side through to the close 195 runs ahead and with seven first-innings wickets still in hand.

Trailing Australia 2-0 in the series, the Proteas made a poor start to the day when Peter Siddle claimed the early wicket of debutant Imraan Khan for 20.

A full-length delivery saw the batsman trying to turn the ball onto the leg side, but he succeeded only in scooping the ball back to the paceman, who took a low one-handed catch to his right.

Two balls later he almost got rid of Prince with another full ball that looked out leg before wicket.

However, umpire Steve Bucknor decided it was not out and his call was justified by Billy Bowden upstairs after Ricky Ponting opted to refer the decision.

The home side continued to steadily build with Hashim Amla and Prince moving past the 50 partnership off 106 deliveries as South Africa went into lunch strongly placed at 1-148.

The second session started terribly for the Proteas as their number three threw away his wicket for 46 in the third over.

Mitchell Johnson was the bowler, enticing Amla to chase a wide delivery outside the off stump that was edged behind to Brad Haddin to end a 97-run stand.

Kallis was then given a real scare just after coming in when a short ball from Ben Hilfenhaus rapped him on the helmet, reviving memories of the second Test in Durban when the all-rounder was forced to retire hurt after being knocked on the chin by Johnson.

However, he survived and offered good support to Prince, who brought up his 11th Test century in the 56th over of the innings.

There were no nervous 90s for the Warriors batsman as he raced from 89 to 100 in just four deliveries, bringing up his ton when he charged down the track against Bryce McGain and lofted him to the long-off boundary.

Kallis then raised the 50 partnership when he lifted the expensive leg-spinner down to the mid-wicket boundary for six as South Africa reached tea at 2-256.


It was not too long after the break that the 100 stand was raised - it came in the 73rd over off 164 deliveries.

That was followed by Kallis reaching his 50 in the same over when he crashed Hilfenhaus through mid-on for four.

Prince then reached the 150 mark, but was out immediately after courtesy of a referral and an extremely long delay.

The batsman played at a Hilfenhaus delivery down the leg side and was initially given not out by umpire Bucknor.

But Ponting asked the question and even though there was no conclusive evidence that Prince had gloved to Haddin, TV official Bowden eventually decided to send the left-hander on his way after a near six-hour stay at the crease.

That also ended a 160-run partnership, but De Villiers continued his support role for Kallis with the pair climbing into the bowling to bring up another half-century in 10 overs.

And with just under four overs remaining in the day, Kallis ended an 11-month drought without a hundred with a scampered single off Siddle.

It was another controversial moment with umpire Rauf initially signalling leg-bye, before concurring with Bowden upstairs and then reversing his call as Kallis celebrated a 31st Test century.