Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten ton spoils India’s hope of historic win

Jacques Kallis defied a painful rib injury to hammer his 40th Test century that saw South Africa all out for 341 in the second innings and set a 340 runs winning target for India at the close of fourth day’s play in the third and the final cricket Test at the Newlands here Wednesday.

Kallis remained unbeaten on 109 and with Mark Boucher (55) helped South Africa recover from 130 for six with their 103-run stand. South Africa made 362 in the first innings and in reply India made 364.
The experienced Kallis, who scored 161 in the first innings, also became the first South African player to score centuries in both the innings of home Test match.

His innings virtually take the game away from India after double strikes from Harbhajan Singh, who picked up seven for 120, raising India’s hopes in the first innings.

Resuming at the overnight score of 52 for two, the South Africans were in problem after Harbhajan removed Alviro Petersen (22) and Hashim Amla (2) in quick succession.

The off-spinner struck in his very first over, second of the day, by getting rid of Petersen, with a ball that did quite a bit after landing on the rough just outside the off stump.

Petersen went on the backfoot and tried to defend the ball but missed it completely to be trapped leg before wicket.

Kallis received excellent support from Mark Boucher (55), sharing a 103-run stand with the wicketkeeper to frustrate India. Boucher’s dismissal at 233-7 epitomised the threat of the pitch as he was trapped lbw by a Sachin Tendulkar delivery which refused to bounce.
Steyn (32) ensured Kallis could push towards three figures, doing so with a leg-side push off Harbhajan in the final hour of play.

A cameo from Morkel (28) was also eventually ended by Harbhajan, who wrapped up the South African innings with his seventh wicket off the final ball of the day when Lonwabo Tsotsobe picked out Sreesanth on the long-on boundary.