Centurion: South Africa had included Jacques Kallis in the team for the first test against England as a specialist batsman since he was not fit enough to bowl. And Kallis showed why he should always be in the team whether it is as a batsman or an all-rounder.

Kallis scored a patient hundred to take South Africa to 262 for 4 at stumps on Day 1, a position that the Proteas wouldn’t have hoped for after the poor start they had to the game. He was unbeaten on 112, his 32^nd test century, in a knock during which he faced 203 balls hitting 14 fours and 1 six.

South Africa was on the backfoot even before the start of play, with Dale Steyn being ruled out because of a tight left hamstring. Friedel de Wet replaced him in the team. The Proteas skipper then lost the toss and was asked to bat first on a wicket that had quite a bit of grass on it.

Their worries were compounded with the captain and their batting mainstay, Graeme Smith, getting dismissed for a duck in the second over of the day.

Ashwell Prince and Hashim Amla put on 50 for the second wicket but they were finding it hard to score against some very tight bowling before Amla was caught at second slip off Graham Onions. Prince, who successfully sought a referral after umpire Steve Davis gave him out lbw to Onions when he was on 19, made 45 before he was caught at slip off Swann’s second ball of the match.

Kallis and JP Duminy (38 not out) then added an unbeaten 103 for the fifth wicket to take South African to a position of safety.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 262 for 4 (Kallis 112*, Duminy 38*, Swann 2-61) v England

Tagged with: Ashwell Prince, Centurion, England, Graeme Swann, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, South Africa

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