Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph scored half centuries on Wednesday to give South Africa the upper hand at tea on the first day of the first cricket test against New Zealand.
Kallis and Rudolph shared an unbroken century partnership to steer South Africa from 101-2 at lunch to 207-2 at tea and into a controlling position in the first match of the three-test series.
Scoring at a steady and almost identical pace, Rudolph reached his half century first, Kallis a few balls later and their century partnership, enlarged to 128 at tea, followed as an inevitable milestone.
Rudolph was 72 not out at the tea interval, Kallis 63 not out and together the pair had frustrated New Zealand’s bowlers and moved South Africa away from the danger they had faced when their second wicket fell at 79.
Rudolph reached his third half century in 12 tests from 101 balls in 124 minutes, with a straight six from Daniel Vettori. He also hit seven fours.
Kallis posted his 28th test half century from 79 balls in 107 minutes, with three sixes and six fours.
In South Africa’s previous test series, Kallis scored 711 runs against the West Indies with four centuries and a half century, at an average of more than 170.
He continued that form on Wednesday with a typical variety of shots, using his feet to negate the spinners Vettori and Paul Wiseman, who were able to extract slight and predictable turn from a slow-paced wicket.
Rudolph was also authoritative, treating accurate bowling with respect but immediately moving into position to dispense a poor delivery.
South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision which was partly undermined by his dismissal for 25 and Herschelle Gibbs’ for 40, both falling to Vettori.
Rudolph and Kallis had fully repaired the innings by tea, leaving New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming with few options to contain South Africa’s scoring. – Sapa-AP