Despite losing almost an entire session to rain on Monday, South Africa remained in the hunt for a series whitewash over the West Indies at Newlands.
At stumps on day four of the third cricket Test match, South Africa had powered to 335 for three, a lead of 440 after Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis savaged the Windies attack to both move to their centuries.
That Kallis was able to reach that ton was a fine effort considering how wide of the wicket the Windies bowled as he approached the milestone.
But it was understandable that the Windies bowled negatively, considering the manner in which Gibbs lathered the attack.
When Gibbs holed out at deep midwicket, the final 42 of his 142 came in just 23 balls. Kallis, however, who made an undefeated 130, became the first batsmen since Alan Melville to score three consecutive centuries.
Melville scored a remarkable four centuries on the trot, two before and two after World War II.
”I was actually not aware of it at all,” said Kallis when asked about the achievement.
”But it’s great to be part of what is probably a very small and elite group.”
Whether Kallis and Gibbs’ efforts will be enough to win the match is unclear.
South African cricket coach Eric Simons insisted that the hosts could stretch their series lead to 3-0 and set themselves up for another win at Centurion next week.
”Our objective before this series was to win it 4-0,” said Simons during the rain break.
”We criticised ourselves for what happened in England,” he added, referring to South Africa drawing a series 2-2 after being 2-1 up going into the final Test.
‘We want to go out there and play positive cricket and still win this 4-0.”
With that in mind, it is almost certain that the hosts will declare overnight. South Africa, however, did not begin the day’s proceedings particularly brightly.
Resuming on their overnight 38 without loss, South African captain Graeme Smith hammered Fidel Edwards past point for four before rather curiously shouldering arms to the next delivery that cut back and clipped his off stump.
In the next over, first innings centurion Jacques Rudolph edged Vasbert Drakes to be out for a second ball duck to reduce the South Africans to 50 for two.
It was then that Kallis joined Gibbs and, after a relatively quiet start to restoring the innings, eventually accelerated markedly to put on 251 for the third wicket. – Sapa