THURSDAY, 5.00PM:
SOUTH African vice-captain and opening batsman Gary Kirsten capitalised on some poor West Australian catching to post an unbeaten 141 at the Waca on Thursday.
Minus both of their main strike bowlers, Jo Angel and Brendon Julian, the wounded “Warriors” needed to hold onto everything that came their way. They didn’t and paid the penalty.
By the close of the opening day of the four-day fixture the tourists, thanks to Kirsten and a hectic unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 124 with Shaun Pollock (78 not out), had hammered their way to 313 for the loss of five wickets.
It was Kirsten’s 22nd first-class hundred, but possibly also one of his luckier tons. South Africa’s most prolific run gatherer on their recent successful trip to Pakistan, Kirsten could have been caught (by second slip Langer) when he had 24, was missed by first slip Martyn 10 runs later and should have been given out — caught behind — on 38. Umpire Peter Parker however ruled otherwise and Kirsten lived on. His 50 (7x4s) came up off 98 balls and in 131 minutes. His 100 (13x4s) off 193 and in 261 minutes.
Adam BacherBacher batted for 81 minutes and hit 3x4s before being caught behind for 22, while captain Hansie Cronje sweated for just on an hour and struck two boundaries. Sandwiched between those two were the dismissals of Jacques Kallis (10) and Daryll Cullinan (13) and the innings, after an opening partnership of 63, had taken a sharp dip at 139/4.
Joined by allrounder Brian McMillan however, Kirsten continued to flourish and the two put on 50 in just on a hour for the fifth wicket. McMillan contributed 20 (2x4s) before presenting ‘keeper Gilchrist with his third catch of the day. That brought Pollock to the wicket and the young Natalian was quick to signal his intentions by lofting a Jamie Stewart delivery over the long-on fence. With Kirsten providing a carbon copy of that shot in Stewart’s next over they needed just 49 balls to add another 50 to the total.
Another six off Stewart — over mid-wicket — and Pollock had a half century in his sights. As luck would have it, Stewart might have ended Polly’s cracker on 44, but a diving catch at deep fine-leg went to ground and Pollock’s 50 (5×4 2×6) duly arrived off only 51 deliveries.
By the close he had added another six boundaries to his tally. Kirsten’s collection was 16x4s and a six, while their unbroken stand of 124 was scored off only 153 balls.
South Africa first innings:
A Bacher c Gilchrist b Atkinson 22 (81m 63b 3×4)
G Kirsten not out 141 (361m 258b 16×4 1×6)
J Kallis c Gilchrist b Harvey 10 (19m 14b 2×4)
D Cullinan b Garnaut 9 (29m 22b 1×4)
H Cronje b Atkinson 13 (59m 42b 2×4)
B McMillan c Gilchrist b Garnaut 20 (61m 61b 2×4)
S Pollock not out 78 (102m 86b 11×4 2×6)
Extras (1b 7lb 6nb) 20
Total (for 5 wkts) 313 — 90 overs (361 mins)
Fall of wickets: 1/63 2/78 3/102 4/139 5/189
Bowling: Garnaut 18-6-50-2, Mason 23-6-60-0, Harvey 20-4-94-1 (6nb), Atkinson 13-2-40-2, Stewart 13-3-60-0, Martyn 3-2-1-0.