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Kallis ton secures draw for SA

Geoff Young | March 14, 2004 15:05 IST

South Africa's Jacques Kallis has his sights set on equalling Don Bradman's record of six centuries in successive Test matches in the next game against New Zealand, starting on Thursday.

Kallis's unbeaten 150, his fifth century in as many Tests, was the highlight of Sunday's play as South Africa drew the first Test in Hamilton.

"I'm really proud of the achievement and am greatly honoured to be named in the same company," Kallis said.

"I'll be making a sixth hundred as my next goal for Auckland. I'm really enjoying my cricket at the moment and when you have some good form it is important to keep going."

Australian Bradman, considered the greatest batsman in the history of the game, set the record between 1936 and 1938.

Kallis scored 158 and 44, 177, 73 and 130 not out and another unbeaten 130 against West Indies in South Africa before the three-Test series in New Zealand.

In the first innings of this Test Kallis was out for 92 and the New Zealand side clapped him off the field when South Africa declared their second innings at 313 for four just after tea on the final day.

"We play hard but we appreciate good play," New Zealand captain Fleming said.

"He is a wonderful player -- a bit of a phenomenon. We did all right against him in the one-dayers, but I said then he was a sleeping giant and we found that out in this Test."

IMPOSSIBLE TARGET

New Zealand, whose 509 had given them a first innings lead of 50, were set an impossible target of 264 runs for victory and had reached 39 for one at close of play.

The batsman out, only the second dismissal of the day, was Michael Papps for 12. He was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Andre Nel, to give the big South African bowler his first wicket of the match.

The only South African wicket to fall on Sunday was Neil McKenzie, who shared a 107-run stand with Kallis, before being caught at short-forward square by Mark Richardson off Paul Wiseman for 52.

The New Zealand bowlers toiled well, but on a pitch that had a football-sized crater causing problems at one end, it was otherwise tame enough to protect the diligent batsman.

Play was held up for five minutes when a couple of balls reared off a good length to South African left-hander Gary Kirsten.

Match referee Clive Lloyd was called on to the pitch to confer with the umpires, apparently regarding the safety of the players and the batsmen in particular.

"The pitch forced our hand a little bit in terms of the tempo of the game. We would have liked to play faster than that," Fleming said.

"It was always going to be tough today. There's not a lot in two-thirds of the wicket to work with. It was a patience game and when you're running out of time it's hard to force the issue."

Scoreboard:

South Africa first innings: 459

New Zealand first innings: 509

South Africa second innings:
G Smith c McCullum b Tuffey 5
H Gibbs c McCullum b Wiseman 47
J Rudolph b Cairns 0
J Kallis not out 150
N McKenzie c Richardson b Wiseman 52
G Kirsten not out 34

Extras (b-12 lb-5 nb-8) 25

Total (for four wkts declared, 116.1 overs) 313

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-16, 3-108, 4-215

Bowling: Tuffey 15-3-28-1 (nb-3), Oram 15-4-29-0 (nb-1), Cairns 15-3-48-1 (nb-3), Vettori 34-11-79-0 (nb-1), Wiseman 19-4-68-2, Styris 13-4-29-0, McMillan 5.1-0-15-0.

New Zealand second innings:
M Papps c Boucher b Nel 12
B McCullum not out 19
S Styris not out 3

Extras (lb-1 w-1 nb-3) 5

Total (for one wicket, 16 overs) 39

Fall of wickets: 1-34.

Bowling: Pollock 4-2-5-0 (nb-1), Ntini 4-0-15-0 (nb-1), Nel 4-0-15-1 (nb-1), Adams 3-1-2-0, McKenzie 1-0-1-0.

Result: Match drawn

Second Test: Auckland, March 18-22


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