Smith, Kallis bat SA to safety
Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis put South Africa into the driving seat at tea on the opening day of the second Castle Test against England at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Saturday.
At the break South Africans, who struggled in the opening session to score freely after the England bowlers had given them a superb start, were 151/2 after 54 overs with Smith on an unbeaten 65 while Kallis, who scored a ton in the opening Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion last week, continued to torment the visitors' bowlers as he powered his way to 74 not out.
The pair came together in the 10th over of the morning as South Africa lost two wickets cheaply, and they desperately needed someone to rebuild their innings.
Smith, who had won the toss, found Kallis in a willing mood after James Anderson had removed Ashwell prince (2) - caught at third slip by Graeme Swann - and then Stuart Broad trapped Hashim Amla, scorer of a century in the first Test last week, in front of his stumps with the total on 10/2.
Smith and Kallis weathered the early storm as the England trio of Anderson, Graham Onions and Broad bowled superbly in the first 90 minutes of the opening session as they gained lift, bounce and movement on this Sahara Stadium Kingsmead strip.
While the England bowlers rejoiced after their early success, Smith and Kallis had one thing in mind after those early blows - to survive until lunch. And they did as South Africa were 76/2 after 25 overs.
Soon after lunch South Africa, thanks to some outstanding rearguard action from Smith and Kallis, wrested the initiative from England, slowly wearing down the England bowlers in the hot and humid conditions as they each posted their half centuries.
Smith reach the target off 138 balls with six boundaries in 138 minutes while Kallis was not far behind in crossing that half century mark in 151 minutes off 94 balls. He struck six fours in the process.
And the pair continued in the same vein as they posted 141 for the unbroken third wicket stand off 191 minutes.