Jacques Kallis flays hapless New Zealand
November 18, 2007 00:00:00
Jacques Kallis's imperious form continued unabated at Centurion with his 29th Test hundred as South Africa completely dominated the second session over a demoralised New Zealand. At tea, the home side edged into the lead by 63 runs, reports Cricinfo.
What made it all the more depressing for New Zealand was the speed in which Kallis and Hashim Amla, with whom he shared an unbeaten 220-run for the third wicket, stole the momentum.
New Zealand, via Chris Martin, had bowled impressively in the morning session, removed an out-of-form Graeme Smith in addition to Herschelle Gibbs.
Their fielding, so shabby in the first Test at Johannesburg, was a vast improvement today too - led by Lou Vincent who ought to have run out Amla in the fifth over of the day.
From a rare position of relative strength, New Zealand's bowlers utterly lost the plot after lunch. Whereas in the morning Martin and Iain O'Brien were pitching it up, their strategy in the afternoon revolved around bumpers and bouncers. Kallis pounced, creaming fours through (and over) extra cover and pulling leg-side strays through midwicket with quite ominous power. Right from the off, it was clear this wasn't to be one of Kallis's turgid days.
Amla was less cavalier, but wonderfully effective. The slightest err in line from New Zealand's bowlers was seized upon, timing the ball beautifully off the back foot - particularly off Martin who by now was tiring.
Without Jacob Oram (hamstring) and their spearhead, Shane Bond, the onus fell on the gangling O'Brien and Mark Gillespie, the debutant. Gillespie resembles an All Black No. 8 rather than a Black Cap No.10, though he was deceptively quick, with a heavy ball that bounces off a length. After showing promise in his first spell, he joined his team-mates in dropping it short and watching the ball crash into the fence.
The most disappointing factor, if not the most crucial, was the hammering Daniel Vettori received. The pair took 16 from his first four overs and from there he never settled. Short balls were pulled for six; half-volleys cracked through cover. With Vettori dispatched, New Zealand's last semblance of control was lost - and not even a defensive over-the-wicket tactic could dam the runs.
Kallis went to his hundred with a carefree flay past point to join Sir Donald Bradman on 29 hundreds. It was his fifth in seven innings and few, with the possible exception of his 186 last week, can have troubled him less.
He and Amla put on 148 runs between lunch and tea, with not a false stroke among them. New Zealand are dead and buried, and Kallis ought to finally - finally - notch his maiden double hundred.
Tea South Africa 251 for 2 (Kallis 131*, Amla 77*) lead New Zealand 188 (Cumming 48, Steyn 4-42) by 63 runs