South African Jacques Kallis stayed in pursuit of Don Bradman’s record of six centuries in consecutive tests when Kallis reached 51 at tea on the fourth day of the second cricket test against New Zealand on Sunday.
Kallis, with Jacques Rudolph, helped South Africa put on 125 runs between lunch and tea at Eden Park as it chased New Zealand’s lead of 299 runs on the first innings.
By tea, when Rudolph was 83 not out, South Africa was 198-2, trailing New Zealand by 101 runs with four sessions of the match remaining.
Kallis batted with typical fluency and authority throughout the second session, reaching his half century in 85 minutes from only 69 balls, hitting seven fours and a six.
His only alarm came at 16 when umpire Aleem Dar of Pakistan turned down a confident appeal for lbw off the bowling of Scott Styris. The ball, which pitched on off stump, kept low and struck Kallis on the front pad, bringing a loud appeal from the New Zealand fielders.
Dar remained unmoved and Kallis survived to post his 28th half century in tests. He also passed 1 000 runs in his past six test matches, joining a small and elite group of batsman who have been so prolific.
Bradman scored six centuries in six consecutive tests matches against England between 1936 and 1938, compiling more than 1 100 runs at an average of 120.
Kallis’ last six test matches, against South Africa and New Zealand, have brought him 1 041 runs at an average of more than 170, with five centuries and three half centuries.
Rudolph played as boldly as Kallis to close on his third test century in 13 tests.
The left-hander came to the wicket when South Africa lost its captain Graeme Smith to the first ball of the second innings.
Rudolph reached his half century in 128 minutes, from 87 balls with nine fours, peppering his innings with drives through the offside.
New Zealand captured only one wicket between lunch and tea, removing Herschelle Gibbs lbw for 61. – Sapa-AP