Jacques Kallis starred with bat and ball as South Africa built up animpregnable position against Zimbabwe on the second day of the First Test atHarare Sports Club

John Ward08-Sep-2001Jacques Kallis starred with bat and ball as South Africa built up animpregnable position against Zimbabwe on the second day of the First Test atHarare Sports Club. He hit an unbeaten 157, his eighth Test century, out ofa massive South African total of 600 for three declared, and then took awicket in his first over as Zimbabwe lost four wickets for 143 by the close.Kallis made most of the early running, hitting anything loose with power andtime to spare, while Gary Kirsten dug a deep foundation as he set his sightson 300 or more. The Zimbabwe bowling was more accurate than on the firstday, but on an easy-paced pitch never looked threatening. At least theywere able to keep the score within reason, though, as South Africa addedonly 40 runs in the first hour and Kallis found runs harder to come by afterhis bright start.There were few signs that South Africa were disturbed by this sudden policyof accuracy until, immediately after the drinks break, Kirsten slashed at aball from Douglas Hondo that was well outside the off stump, and edged acatch to the keeper for 220. South Africa were 455 for two after twopartnerships of 256 and 199.Kallis was prepared to take no risks with his century in view, whileMcKenzie played himself in. Zimbabwe’s fielding was also much keener, andRaymond Price made the ball spin sharply at times, so South Africa wererestricted to 68 runs in the session.In the first over after lunch, McKenzie leapt down the pitch to hit Priceover his head for four, a declaration of South Africa’s intentions. At lastthere was an intriguing battle on the field on even terms as Price troubledhim at times, while the batsmen was determined to attack when theopportunity presented itself.Kallis, grimly watchful through the nineties, finally reached his eighthTest century off 231 balls, and then began to open up. He joined McKenzie,who reached his own fifty, in launching an assault on Price, hitting him forseveral big leg-side sixes. Zimbabwe’s luck remained minimal, with the oddmis-hit evading the fielders and a close lbw appeal against McKenzierejected, but they continued to fight with much greater determination thanthey had shown on the opening day.Finally Fortune decided to smile, and a top-edged pull by McKenzie (52) offTravis Friend was finally held by Douglas Hondo running in from long leg;582 for three, and the third wicket had added 127. Kallis lost a ball fromPrice on to the roof of the new ZCU president’s stand, while Lance Klusenerhad a few fresh-air swings before pulling Friend over the stands at widelong-on. At this point, with the score 600 for three, Shaun Pollock decidedenough was enough and applied the declaration, tea being taken early.Kallis batted 257 minutes and hit 14 fours and five sixes.When Zimbabwe batted, Andre Nel enjoyed the gift of a wicket with his thirdball in Test cricket: Alistair Campbell (0) aimed an appalling hook at abouncer moving well away outside off stump, and only succeeded in edging acatch to the ‘keeper. Dion Ebrahim for his part showed no fear of Pollock,taking nine runs off his first two overs, and Hamilton Masakadza also tookon the pacemen positively, the latter enjoying two escapes off Pollock, atgully and second slip. He was to waste them, however, by chancing a run toMcKenzie, who anticipated well at mid-off to run him out for 13; 43 for two.Kallis came on to bowl and immediately had Craig Wishart (0) caught low atfirst slip. Andy Flower was quickly under way, keeping it simple as alwaysand punishing the loose ball, while Ebrahim brought up a creditable fiftywith a cover-driven four off debutant left-arm spinner Claude Henderson.Flower, so proficient against spin, made it his aim to hit Henderson out ofthe attack on a pitch taking turn, but Ebrahim (71) donated his first wicketin Test cricket by charging down the pitch, head in the air, to be stumped.Flower then played safely until the close, finishing on 54 not out,accompanied by night-watchman Price. Only Wishart of the four men gone wasnot guilty of a soft dismissal. Their last six wickets need to find 258more runs to avoid the follow-on, difficult but by no means impossible.