By Ken Borland
CAPE TOWN Jan 3 (Reuters) – Jacques Kallis and Alviro
Petersen hit centuries to drive South Africa into a commanding
position on the first day of the third test against Sri Lanka at
Newlands on Tuesday.
South Africa, trying to win a series at home for the first
time in three years, had slipped to 56 for two after being sent
in to bat, before Kallis and Petersen rescued them with a
205-run partnership. The hosts ended the day on 347 for three.
Kallis was unbeaten on 159 while Petersen, playing his first
test since January last year, notched up his second test century
before falling for 109.
Kallis has now completed a full set of centuries against
every other test-playing nation, the second South African after
current coach Gary Kirsten and 12th batsman overall to do so.
On a ground where he now averages 78.19, Kallis hammered 21
fours and a six in his 41st century in his 150th test, driving
the ball with immense authority.
Petersen gazed with admiration from the other end at
Kallis’s imperious innings before notching up a brilliant
century of his own, hitting 13 fours and a six.
He used his feet beautifully and drove with sweet timing,
scoring heavily on the leg-side. But Petersen eventually fell in
the ninth over after tea when he was caught by a diving
Tillakaratne Dilshan at short-cover after driving loosely at a
slower ball from left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara.
AB de Villiers then came in and played some handsome strokes
against a toothless attack as he breezed to 45 not out by the
close.
Continued…
