Kallis hits top form in Karachi

FIRST TEST, KARACHI: South Africa 294-3 v Pakistan (day one, stumps)

Jacques Kallis hit his 25th Test century as South Africa reached an excellent 294-3 after day one of the Karachi Test against Pakistan.

Kallis hit 118 not out from 192 balls after the tourists had won the toss and filled their boots on a flat wicket.

The former vice-captain put on 170 with Hashim Amla, who was bowled by the second new ball after a patient 71.

Pakistan had four spinners operating before lunch, but struggled to get much meaningful response from the wicket.

Abdur Rehman debuted for Pakistan while Mohammad Yousuf reported unfit and was replaced by Faisal Iqbal.

South Africa had no place for Shaun Pollock.

Though paceman Morne Morkel failed a fitness test on his injured foot, they chose to use a seam attack of Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn and Andre Nel. Graeme Smith (42) and Herschelle Gibbs (54) put on 87 for the first wicket before falling either side of lunch.

First, off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez had Smith lbw with his quicker ball, then Gibbs drove flat-footedly at Umar Gul to be caught at gully.

Amla, who drove the last ball of the first session pleasantly through the covers for four, repeated the shot with the last ball before tea to go to 49 not out.

But he lost momentum in the final session and was bowled by one that nipped back from Mohammad Asif, the seamer taking his 50th Test wicket.

Kallis oozed class, dominating the partnership with Amla.

He moved into the 90s with a deft cover-drive off Danish Kaneria, went to 99 with a back- foot force off the same bowler, and took a single off Shoaib Malik to reach three figures from his 147th ball faced.

It was his first century of any sort in Pakistan, after previously playing 10 one-day internationals and three Tests there without going to three figures.

South Africa have named Ashwell Prince as their Test vice-captain, with Justin Kemp set to do the job in one-day cricket.

Kallis had resigned from the role after being overlooked for the ICC World Twenty20, but the veteran all-rounder did take his place in the side on Monday.

Source: BBC Sport