Cricket: Kallis stars on lunar landscape

By RICHARD BOOCK

If you hadn't known better, this could have been an experiment to ascertain how a cricket match might have proceeded on the dark side of the Moon.

By the end of the match the craters were almost big enough to accommodate the landing of a lunar-module, and the only rays of light were coming from Jacques Kallis and New Zealand Cricket's Keystone Cops-like match management.

Kallis' 150 on an exploding pitch at Westpac Park must surely rate as one of his best innings in a 76-test career, and ensured that South Africa would not only reach safety in their second innings, but even have room to declare during the penultimate session.

The historic value of his century was also significant, as it meant he became only the second batsman after Sir Donald Bradman to score centuries in five consecutive tests.

Kallis will have the chance of equalling the record this week in Auckland.

In the summer of 1936-37, The Don strung together centuries in consecutive tests at Melbourne, Adelaide and Melbourne, and then set sail for England, where he reached three figures in the first three tests at Trent Bridge, Lord's and Headingly.

He might have even stretched the record further but for an ankle sprain that prevented him from batting at The Oval, because he struck 187 and 234 in his next two tests after the war.

Kallis, who scored 92 in the first innings in Hamilton, arrived in New Zealand having posted centuries in his previous four tests against the West Indies, and survived a tricky period of play on the fourth evening before leading his side to safety.

Having struggled in the one-day series, the powerful right-hander underlined his class during a 406-minute stay that allowed South African skipper Graeme Smith to declare yesterday afternoon at 313-4, a lead of 263.

When stumps were drawn last night, New Zealand were 39-1, with temporary opener Brendon McCullum unbeaten on 19 and Scott Styris on 3.

However, the day belonged to Kallis, who resumed in the morning on 56 and set about adding 107 runs for the fourth wicket with Neil McKenzie, and then sharing in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 98 with Gary Kirsten.

Resigned to the block-slog nature of the Hamilton pitch, the in-form Kallis struck almost half of his runs in boundaries and collected 59 in singles, but eventually brought up his 16th test century with a tuck off his hip for two.

As well as he batted, the issue of the disintegrating pitch almost overshadowed his stroke-play, particularly after match referee Sir Clive Lloyd was summoned to the middle during the second session to decide whether the match should continue.

Concerns had apparently been raised about the growth of the crater and the corresponding risk of injury for batsmen, particularly the left-handers.

Lloyd, who walked on to the field three overs after New Zealand had taken the second new ball, discussed the issue with umpires Russell Tiffin and Steve Davis.

However, they decided that the test should proceed.

Whatever else New Zealand might take from the match, they would have been pleased with the tenacity of their battle, as they were effectively forced to chase South Africa from the moment Stephen Fleming lost the toss.

There would have been delight over the batting contribution of the lower order - Jacob Oram in particular, a measure of satisfaction over the performance of rookies McCullum and Papps, and some buoyancy over their record first-innings total of 509.

Coach John Bracewell yesterday made one change to the 13-man squad for the second test at Auckland starting on Thursday.

He has brought in fast bowler Ian Butler at the expense of seamer Michael Mason.

SUCCESSIVE CENTURYMAKERS

6 tests - Don Bradman (Australia)

5 - Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

4 - Bradman twice, Ken Barrington (England) twice, Jack Fingleton (Australia), Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Everton Weekes (West Indies), Neil Harvey (Australia), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Matthew Hayden (Australia), Rahul Dravid (India).

BRADMAN'S RUN OF SCORES:

6 and 270 v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

26 and 212 v England, Adelaide, 1936-37

169 v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

51 and 144* v England, Nottingham, 1938

18 and 102* v England, Lord's, 1938

103 and 16 v England, Leeds, 1938

KALLIS' RUN OF SCORES:

158 and 44 v West Indies, Johannesburg, 2003-04

177 v West Indies, Durban, 2003-04

73 and 130* v West Indies, Cape Town, 2003-04

130* v West Indies, Centurion, 2003-04

92 and 150* v New Zealand, Hamilton, 2003-04