Kallis rises to the occasion in his 150th Test

All-rounder scores ton as Sri Lanka toil on opening day.

CAPE TOWN:

Jacques Kallis hit his 41st Test century and Alviro Petersen was unbeaten on 99 at tea as South Africa punished the Sri Lankan bowling attack on the first day of the third and final Test.

South Africa were 236 for two at the interval after being sent in to bat. It was a triumphant return to form for Kallis, playing on his home ground after making the first ‘pair’ of his career during South Africa’s defeat in the second Test in Durban. He was in imperious form as he reached his half-century off 37 balls and his century off 114 deliveries with 17 fours.

With the series tied at 1-1, Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan gambled by sending South Africa in. Hopes that a green-tinged pitch would help his fast-bowlers were soon shown to be mistaken, while early morning cloud soon cleared on what became an ideal day for batting.

Fast-bowler Dhammika Prasad, replacing the injured Dilhara Fernando, had early success as he dismissed Graeme Smith for 16 with his first ball of the match and followed up with the wicket of Hashim Amla. But Petersen, making his first appearance of the series, played an assured innings as he and Kallis took command during a record South African third wicket partnership against Sri Lanka, which was worth 180 by tea.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.