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By Ken Borland
CAPE TOWN Jan 4 (Reuters) – Jacques Kallis completed
his second test double century and AB de Villiers scored an
unbeaten 160 to put South Africa in control of the third and
deciding test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Their combined efforts enabled South Africa, seeking their
first series win at home in three seasons, to declare 40 minutes
before tea on the second day on 580 for four.
At the close, Sri Lanka were 149 for two after captain
Tillakaratne Dilshan had scored a quickfire 78. Sri Lanka’s
leading batsmen Kumar Sangakkara (35 not out) and Mahela
Jayawardene (seven not out) were still at the crease.
Kallis, one of only four players to amass more than 12,000
test runs, had not exceeded 200 runs in an innings until his 201
not out against India at Centurion in December, 2010.
The 36-year-old, who resumed on 159, needed just 65
deliveries on Wednesday to reach his second double century, in
394 minutes and 280 balls, with 29 fours and a six.
“Both my double centuries have been special but especially
getting one at Newlands, and with the series at 1-1, we needed a
big performance and it was nice to be the one to do it,” Kallis
told reporters after silencing the critics who were ready to
write him off following his first pair in test cricket in Durban
last week.
“After Durban, it was nice to be able to get in and cash in
on a good pitch. It was great to see that after just one bad
game, people were saying my eyes had gone, I was too old … I
mean come on.”
Continued…
