MICHAEL METELITS, Johannesburg | Friday 5.40pm.
MARK BOUCHER reached his century off 177 balls and 16 boundaries. This puts South Africa at 301/8 after 86 overs. This is Boucher’s maiden Test century.
Kallis was finally dismissed by Chanderpaul after 86 runs and 7 boundaries. He averaged 65 runs per over while not out.
Boucher is currently partnered by Alan Donald. The Windies bowlers are having a tough time of it, and King and Chanderpaul are both yet to take a wicket.
3.15pm.
JACQUES Kallis continues his drive toward a century in the first innings of the fifth Test, currently at 184/6 on 50 overs. Kallis has 72 runs off 134 balls, including 7 boundaries and a six.
Mark Boucher is doing his part, knocking out 23 runs off 68 balls, with three boundaries. Reon King, the Windies bowler brought on to provide some spark, has yet to take a wicket in 8 overs, and has given up 30 runs so far.
2.45pm.
JACQUES Kallis, showing the form that has become his trademark in this series, is knocking boundaries with frightening regularity and raising South Africa’s score to 156/6 at 43 overs.
Kallis now has 57 runs off 117 balls, more than any other two South Afircan batsmen combined, and is wearing Nixon McLean down slowly. Boucher has contributed only 12 runs off 38 balls, although 8 of those came from two boundaries.
2pm.
THE WEST Indies bowlers came back from lunch determined to quash South Africa’s rally in the morning session. With two quick wickets, the score stands at 130/6 at 33 overs.
Reon King caught Rhodes after 24 runs off 32 balls, including four boundaries. Brian Lara then caught Shaun Pollock after only 13 runs.
With Kallis carrying the day so far, South Africa’s second six will have to improve significantly to give the Windies batsmen some work in their first innings.
1.00pm.
SOUTH Africa are 86/4 at 24 overs at lunch, and appear not to be taking the fifth Test against the West Indies at Centurion seriously.
At the break, Kallis had 26 runs off 67 balls while Rhodes racked up 14 off 17 balls. Kallis prefers to grind them out slowly, with only one six, while Rhodes already has three fours under his belt.
What appeared to be a good start by the West Indies bowlers turns out to have been a slow start by South African batsmen. Whether this Test will be as lopsided as the previous four, depends on the performance of South Africa’s second six.
12.25pm
THE home side was still struggling, as captain Hansie Cronje was caught by Jacobs on a ball bowled by Mervyn Dillon. Kirsten, Gibbs, Cullinan and Cronje have all been retired, and the front six are left with the current partnership of Kallis and Rhodes to raise the score from its current 82/4 level.
Kallis has 20 runs off 58 balls, and Rhodes is just warming up with 4 runs off 7 balls.
12.10pm.
SOUTH Africa began its first innings of the fifth and final Test against the West Indies at Centurion Park weakly on Friday, but appeared to be finding their stride as Hansie Cronje began finding gaps.
The home side are 45/3, coming back from a disastrous 19/3 opening.
Kirsten and Gibbs were unceremoniously dismissed, and only Cronje and Kallis seem to be consistently bringing home the runs for South Africa.
Kirsten was bowled out by Walsh and caught by Jacobs, and Gibbs fell to Walsh and Reifer.