Hail the centurion as Kallis posts another hundred

CENTURION, South Africa, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Jacques Kallis hit his fifth Test century in seven innings as South Africa moved into a commanding position on the second day of the second and final Test against New Zealand at Centurion Park here on Saturday.

Kallis made a stroke-filled 131 as South Africa reached 272 for three in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 188.
Kallis and Hashim Amla, who had a partnership of 330 during South Africa's 358-run win in the first Test in Johannesburg, shared another big stand, putting on 220 for the third wicket.

Amla was on 89 not out when bad light ended play seven overs after tea.

It was a dominant performance by Kallis after a shaky start on a pitch with some uneven bounce.

After taking 94 balls to reach 50 he needed only another 49 to post his 29th Test hundred and his fifth against New Zealand.
Known more for his concentration and sound technique, and sometimes criticised for not dominating at the crease, Kallis displayed some dazzling stroke play as he scored 95 runs off 90 balls between lunch and tea.

Mark Gillespie, in his first Test, ended Kallis' innings when he made a ball swing back sharply to trap the South African leg before wicket five balls after tea. Kallis hit 17 fours and two sixes in a 177-ball innings.

Kallis, who made 186 in the second innings in Johannesburg, came into the matches against New Zealand after making three centuries in four innings against Pakistan when South Africa earned a rare series win in the Asian country.

When he was on six Kallis, playing in his eighth Test of the year, became the first batsman to make 1000 runs in 2007.

Kallis and Amla, who was content to play a supporting role, came together after opening bowler Chris Martin dismissed opening batsmen Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs. Amla, who made 176 not out in Johannesburg, scored his 89 runs off 176 balls with 13 fours.

South Africa needed only four balls at the start of the day to wrap up New Zealand's first innings, with Makhaya Ntini having Martin caught at second slip by Kallis after captain Daniel Vettori had added a single run to New Zealand's 187 for eight overnight.

Opening batsman Craig Cumming, who retired hurt on 48 after being struck by a Dale Steyn bouncer on Friday, did not bat and was ruled out of the rest of the match after surgery on Friday night to repair a fractured right cheekbone and jaw.

Martin's first ball of the innings lifted sharply and looped off the shoulder of Smith's bat over gully for two runs but the South African captain was out to the last ball of the over when he played an indecisive defensive shot and was bowled off an inside edge.