Kallis, Petersen fire for SA

Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen hit centuries as South Africa dominated the first day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands yesterday.


Jacques Kallis

South Africa were 347 for three at the close after being sent in to bat. Kallis, playing in his 150th Test match, was on 159 not out. He and Petersen (109) put on 205 for the third wicket, a record for South Africa against Sri Lanka.

It was a triumphant return to his home town for Kallis after making the first 'pair' of his career during South Africa's defeat in the second Test in Durban. He was in imperious form as he reached his half-century off 37 balls and his century off 114 deliveries with 17 fours.

His scoring rate slowed later in the day and by the close he had faced 215 balls and hit 21 fours and a six.
It was Kallis' 41st Test century, his ninth at Newlandsu00a0-- and his first against Sri Lanka. He joined Gary Kirsten, the current coach, as the only South Africans to hit centuries against all nine possible Test opponents.

Petersen scored a century on his debut against India in Kolkata in 2009-10 but made only three half-centuries in eight subsequent appearances and was replaced as captain Graeme Smith's opening partner by Jacques Rudolph at the start of this season.u00a0