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19 March 2024

India vs South Africa 2nd Test, Day 3: Kallis nears century in his farewell Test

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By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

Jacques Kallis inched closer to scoring a century in his final Test after guiding South Africa to 299 for five before rain and bad light brought a premature end to the third day of the second Test against India on Saturday.

Kallis, who is playing his final Test before retiring, faced 224 balls for his unbeaten 78 in what could be his last Test innings. He took the Proteas to within 35 of India's first innings score.

The 38-year-old notched up his 87th half-century in Tests and will resume day four with nightwatchman Dale Steyn (zero not out).

South Africa lost JP Duminy (28) just before the close, one of four wickets for Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja (four for 87).

All-rounder Kallis was the junior partner in an excellent fourth-wicket stand of 127 with AB de Villiers (74) that got South Africa out of trouble earlier in the day.

De Villiers, who bagged a century to help save the first Test in Johannesburg and has amassed at least 50 in each of his last 10 Test matches, looked fluent again as he scored all around the ground before edging to Virat Kohli at first slip off the bowling of Jadeja.

The South African vice-captain said it was a privilege to spend so much time at the crease with Kallis.

"I personally have a lot of fond memories batting with Jacques, I scored my first Test hundred with him when he was at the wicket, I was there for both his double-hundreds," De Villiers said in a pitchside interview.

"He has meant so much to me in my career, I probably wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for all the advice (he gave me) on and off the field throughout my career."

The pair steadied the innings after a mini-collapse in the morning session when the hosts lost three wickets for 10 runs.

The home side had started the day well, Graeme Smith (47) and Alviro Petersen (62) moving the side briskly from their overnight score of 82 and adding 21 runs before the former was excellently caught by Shikhar Dhawan running towards the boundary at cover off the bowling of Jadeja.

Hashim Amla had a wretched time in the drawn first Test in Johannesburg, out twice leaving deliveries that crashed on to his stumps, and he failed with the bat again on Saturday.

This time he played a shot but the result was the same, the excellent Mohammed Shami getting the ball to move away slightly and clip the off-stump and dismiss him for three.

That brought Kallis to the crease and India, showing great sportsmanship, gave the veteran all-rounder a guard of honour as he walked to the middle, with Australian umpires Steve Davis and Rod Tucker joining in.

But perhaps the emotion of the moment led to Petersen losing his concentration as he was out the very next delivery, gloving the ball to Murali Vijay at slip off the bowling of Jadeja.

JP Duminy became Jadeja's fourth victim when he was trapped leg before wicket in the penultimate over before the umpires took the players off the field as rain began to fall.

"The game is very much in the balance. Keeping in mind that we are batting last on the wicket... we need a lead of 100," De Villiers said.

"The wicket is doing a bit which will make it difficult for us to get that lead."

Jadeja added: "The pitch is getting slower and slower so we just have to get them all out as early as possible and in the second innings if we bat well, we can put a good score on the board."

EVENING SESSION

Play was called off following an inspected after the rain relented with the umpires drawing stumps and deciding to have an early start on Sunday.

Jacques Kallis remained unbeaten on 78 in his farewell Test as South Africa reached 299-5 in 104.5 overs when rain halted play early with 13 overs remaining on day three of the second Test against India at Durban on Saturday.

The hosts trail by 35 runs as Kallis played a rock-solid knock to steady the South Africa innings after they lost three wickets for 10 runs in quick succession to slump to 113-3 in the first hour.

Kallis has faced 224 balls and hit 10 fours during his innings being associated in a 127-run for the fourth wicket with AB de Villiers (74) to lift South Africa.

Nightwatchman Steyn survived seven balls without scoring.

Duminy (28) also shared a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket Kallis before becoming the fourth victim of Jadeja trapped leg before shortly before the rains came down.

Having resumed on 82 for no loss in reply to India's first innings total of 334, openers Graeme Smith (47) and Alviro Petersen (62) posted 103 to give them a brisk start before wickets tumbled.

Jadeja who ended the day with impressive figures of four 87 triggered the collapse when Smith went for a big heave only for Dhawan to take a superb catch running back from midwicket.

Shami clipped Amla's off stump with a beauty while Petersen was beaten by the bounce and spin of Jadeja to edge to Vijay at first slip.

AB de Villiers launched a counter attack cracking nine boundaries during his knock.

But India tightened the screws after his dismissal with the final session yielding just 32 runs.

Jadeja has figures of 37-9-87-4 after snaring Duminy who added 58 runs for the fifth wicket with Kallis.

Steyn walks in as the nightwatchman with 15 overs remaining and dark clouds hovering over the ground.

Jadeja gets another breakthrough as Duminy is trapped leg before after going on the back foot. SA 298-5 in 103.2 overs.

JP Duminy lbw b Jadeja 28 (102m 82b 4x4 0x6)

Duminy also gets into the act flicking Ishant in the first over after tea to square leg for a boundary. SA 279-4 in 91 overs.

Kallis gets down to business immediately after the tea interval slamming Jadeja through the covers for a boundary. SA 275-4 in 90 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

South Africa are 267-4 at tea on day three of the second Test against India at Durban on Saturday with Jacques Kallis unbeaten on a rock solid 61.

The hosts added 86 for the loss of AB de Villiers who  became left arm spinner Jadeja's third victim edging a catch to Kohli at slip after adding 127 runs for the fourth wicket with Kallis.

South Africa trail by 67 runs with six wickets in hand.

AB de Villiers' fluent knock of 74 contained nine boundaries but his dismissal saw the scoring rate drop as India tightened the screws.

Kallis has faced 10 and hit nine boundaries during his 150th international half century.

Duminy is with him on 13 having hit three boundaries.

India delayed taking the second new ball.

Jadeja has figures of 32-7-77-3 so far.

Duminy slams Jadeja for another boundary through point. SA 264-4 in 86 overs.

Duminy breaks the shackles caused by the tight bowling of Shami and Jadeja by punching the spinner through the covers for a glorious boundary. SA 258-4 in 84 overs.

The second new ball is due now but Dhoni delays taking it with South Africa 251-4 after 80 overs.

Kallis rocks back and punches Jadeja through point for his ninth boundary to bring up his 59th Test half century and sixth against India. SA 250-4 in 76 overs.

Duminy is off the mark with a boundary to fine leg off Ishant. SA 245-4 in 75 overs.

Jadeja claims his third wicket to break the fourth wicket stand of 127 between Kallis and AB de Villiers.

Jadeja snares AB de Villiers inducing at outside edge to Kohli at slip after having been hit for a boundary the previous delivery with a reverse sweep. SA 240-4 in 74 overs.    

AB de Villiers c Kohli b Jadeja 74 (117b 9x4 0x6)

South Africa have reduced the deficit in the first hour after lunch and trail by 98 runs with the fourth wicket pair of Kallis (4) and AB de Villiers (70) getting on top of the Indian attack with their partnership prospering to 123.

Kallis cracks Ishant through the covers for another boundary while AB de Villiers flicks him to fine leg fence. SA 235-3 in 71 overs.

Jadeja is back into the attack with South Africa 222-3 after 67 overs.

Ishant returns to the attacks and bangs in a short delivery which is despatched to the fine leg fence by AB de Villiers. SA 221-3 in 66 overs.

The 100-run stand between Kallis and AB de Villiers comes off 186 balls. SA 213-3 in 65 overs.

Kallis slams consecutive boundaries off Zaheer through the covers on the back foot and front foot. SA 211-3 in 63 overs.

AB de Villiers slams Shami through the covers for a boundary and gets a couple to complete his 34th Test half century and second against India. SA 203-3 in 62 overs.

Kallis hits the first boundary after lunch edging Shami past the vacant slip to third man. SA 192-3 in 60 overs.

Shami and Zaheer open the attack after the lunch interval as play continues amid cloudy skies.

MORNING SESSION

The hosts trail by 153 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Resuming from their overnight total of 82 for no loss Smith and Petersen began positively posting 103 before South Africa suffered a mini-collapse.

Smith was the first to go with Dhawan taking a superb catch running back in the deep after the South African captain got a rush of blood and tried to heave spinner Jadeja out of the ground.

Smith cracked seven boundaries in his knock of 47 facing 81 balls but his dismissal triggered a collapse which saw them lose three wickets for 10 runs and slump to 113-3.

Amla did not last long with Shami clipping his off stump while Petersen followed soon afterwards beaten by the bounce and spin of Jadeja for Vijay to take a good low catch at slip.

Petersen's knock of 62 off 100 balls contained eight hits to the ropes.

This was before Kallis and AB de Villiers led a counter attack before consolidating.

Kallis took time to open his account but slammed four boundaries in his 26 while AB de Villiers was with him on a more aggressive 39 having hit four boundaries so far.

Left arm spinner Jadeja who bowled a marathon spell from either end during the extended morning session returned figures of 21-5-52-2 while Shami claimed one for 41.

Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers weathered an early storm with a 68-run stand as South Africa took lunch on day three of the second Test against India at 181-3 in 57 overs at Durban on Saturday.

Zaheer comes back into the attack with ten minutes to go for the lunch interval.

AB de Villiers gets another boundary to midwicket with an uppish drive on the leg side which finds the gap. SA 179-3 in 54 overs.

AB de Villiers flicks Ishant to fine leg for another boundary. SA 174-3 in 52 overs.

Kallis punches a short pitched delivery from Ishant through point for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership with AB de Villiers off 96 balls. SA 168-3 in 50 overs.

Kallis sweeps Rohit for a boundary. SA 160-3 in 48 overs.

Ishant returns to the attack replacing Zaheer after a spell of 4-0-12-0.

Jadeja continues unchanged after the drinks interval and bowls a maiden to Kallis. SA 152-3 in 46 overs.

AB de Villiers drives Zaheer straight down the ground for a boundary to bring up the 150 of the innings in the 45th over as drinks are taken.

Kallis shifts gears lofting Jadeja over his head for consecutive boundaries. SA 144-3 in 44 overs.

South Africa trail by 200 runs with seven wickets in hand. SA 134-3 in 43 overs.

Kallis opens his account after 16 balls by pushing Zaheer past point for a single. SA 124-3 in 39 overs.

Zaheer replaces Shami after a successful opening spell of 5-0-31-1.

AB de Villiers skips down the track and lofts Jadeja back over his head for his first boundary. SA 123-3 in 38 overs.

Double blow for South Africa as they lose Amla and Petersen in successive balls with Jadeja getting bounce and turn off the pitch and Vijay at slip holding a good low catch. SA 113-3 in 33.1 overs.

Alviro Petersen c Vijay b Jadeja 62 (100b 8x4 0x6)

Kallis walks out to a standing ovation and a guard of honour from the Indian team in his final Test match.

Shami strikes with a perfect delivery which nudges the off stump after missing the outside edge of Amla. SA 113-2 in 33 overs.

Hashim Amla b Mohammed Shami 3 (24m 18b 0x4 0x6)

Shami into the attack replacing Ishant. SA 107-1 in 29 overs.

Jadeja strikes inducing a rush of blood from Smith who goes for a big one only for Dhawan to run back from midwicket and take a superb catch. SA 103-1 in 27.1 overs.

Graeme Smith c Dhawan b Jadeja 47 (120m 81b 7x4 0x6)

The 100 partnership between Smith (45) and Petersen (54) which is their sixth in Tests comes off 156 balls.

Petersen survives a smart piece of stumping from Dhoni after being beaten by Jadeja with the television umpire giving him the benefit of the doubt. SA 98-0 in 24 overs.

Smith cracks Ishant through the covers for another boundary as South Africa are off to a brisk start. SA 98-0 in 23 overs.

Petersen whips the first ball from Jadeja to the square leg fence to complete his half century. SA 93-0 in 22 overs.

Smith hits the first ball of the day from Ishant through the covers. SA 88-0 in 21 overs.

South Africa resume day three of the 2nd Test against India at Durban on 82-0 in reply to the tourists' first innings total of 334 on Saturday.