PRETORIA, South Africa - Jacques Kallis scored his 32nd century to lead South Africa to 262 for four wickets at stumps Wednesday on the opening day of the first test against England.
Kallis was 112 not out after having put on an unbroken stand of 103 with J.P. Duminy and 66 with A.B. de Villiers to steer the Proteas to a solid total after being in to bat at Supersport Park.
Kallis hit 14 fours and a six in 203 balls, improving his overall total to 10,389 test runs as South Africa's highest ever scorer.
His participation in the match had been in doubt due to a rib cartilage injury but Kallis seemed untroubled at the crease, going down the pitch and smacking offspinner Graeme Swann for six over long-on before cracking him to the midwicket fence in one over.
“We had heard England wanted to bowl first if they won the toss and there was a bit of a (green) tinge to the pitch. So we were happy with 262-4,” said Ashwell Prince, who made 45. “We still have some attacking batters like Mark Boucher to come, so we'll be looking for something like 400.” England chose to go into the match with only four front-line bowlers, selecting Ian Bell to bat at No 6 in his 50th test. And that could come back to hurt the team as Graham Onions had to leave the field for some time due to a calf strain. The seamer, one of only three in England's attack, bowled just two overs in the final session.
Swann finished with 2-61, and is likely to bowl plenty of overs Thursday, especially if Onions is not fully fit.
“The team we picked is a very good one that can win this game,” Swann said.
Duminy was peppered with short-pitched bowling as part of England's tactics. He successfully left alone plenty of bouncers, and struck some sweetly-timed boundaries through the covers, ending the day unbeaten on 38 after hitting four fours and a six.
South Africa fast bowler Friedel de Wet received his first cap after being selected in place of pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who was ruled out with a hamstring strain, while quick Makhaya Ntini became the fifth South African to play 100 tests with his selection.
After England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to field, his South African counterpart Graeme Smith was out on the ninth ball of the day. He touched a ball from Stuart Broad down the legside for wicketkeeper Matt Prior to take a tumbling catch.
Hashim Amla was out 19 overs later for 19, pushing at a ball from Graham Onions to be caught at second slip by Paul Collingwood to leave the hosts on 51-2. One ball earlier, Amla had flashed a four over slips to take his partnership with Prince to 50.
Prince had an eventful first session. On 19, he was given out lbw off Onions by umpire Steve Davis. The batsman referred the decision to the TV umpire, and was vindicated by replays that showed the ball going over the stumps.
Prince was ruled not out.
Then, two balls after Amla was out, Prince was dropped on 21. He flicked a delivery from James Anderson down the legside and Alastair Cook only just failed to hold what would have been a stunning catch.
South Africa went to lunch at 70-2 and nine overs later, Swann took a wicket with just his second ball, finding the outside edge of Prince's bat to have him caught at first slip by Collingwood to end his 155-minute innings. Prince hit six fours.
To7EEi the end of the session, England unsuccessfully appealed to the TV umpire for a review having been convinced that De Villiers was caught behind off Swann.
That was the second failed referral by England and it has no more appeals left in this innings.
However, Swann got rid of De Villiers in the last over before tea, having him caught by Alastair Cook at short-leg to be out for 32.
