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Kallis shines under the lights

Thursday, February 5 2004

Under the lights of the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Jacques Kallis gave his sixth lesson in as many weeks on century making against the West Indies as the South Africans sealed a series victory despite a marvellous 152 from Chris Gayle.

Brian Lara and his men will be glad to get out of Africa after a 3-1 loss in the ODI series and a 3-0 loss in the preceding Test series.

It was not beyond the tourists to claim a draw from this series after a masterful display of aggressive batsmanship from Chris Gayle. He shared in a record 1st wicket stand of 193 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul as Chanderpaul returned to opening the innings. In doing so they passed the previous record of 155 between Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes from 1991/2 in Port Of Spain. After 38.3 overs, Chanderpaul fell for 85 (114 balls) and his captain soon followed for 11 (11 balls) and the score lay at 212/2 with 51 deliveries remaining.

Enter Ricardo Powell to the fray, blasting 49 unbeaten runs from just 24 deliveries to push the total over 300. He added 92* with Chris Gayle who remained ever present for the 50 overs. The Jamaican born left-hander finished on 152* from 153 balls, including 12 fours and 3 sweetly struck sixes, and achieving the highest score by a West Indian in a ODI against South Africa.

With a total of 304 to defend and getting to bowl second under the lights, Brian Lara must have had a flickering hope of scraping a draw from a barren tour in terms of positives. This hope would have increased as Herschelle Gibbs (15) fell with the score on 31.

However, this only brought their nemesis to the crease in the form of Jacques Kallis. Yet again he set about creating a situation for victory. Firstly, with Graeme Smith, 102 runs from 18.4 overs in which Smith made a quickfire 58. After the fall of Smith, the run rate rose to just under 8 as Boeta Dippenaar and Kallis consolidated for 10 overs. Dippenaar fell for 28 with the score on 187/3.

This was a key moment as Rudolph came and went for 35 from 29 deliveries. Rather more importantly, his partner had cut loose at the other end as the pair added 90 from 64 balls. During this partnership, Kallis passed 100 again at a quick rate. Several huge blows from the all-rounder resulted in 3 monstrous sixes and 11 boundaries.

Lance Klusener went for 4 after a brilliant catch from Brian Lara leaving 20 required from 19 balls.

A good over from Rampaul (including the wicket of Kallis) left 8 required from the last over. A calamity fielding error gifted a boundary to Pollock who then despatched Chris Gayle, the hero with the bat for WI, for a maximum to win the game for South Africa with 2 balls to spare.

Kallis received the Man Of The Match award for his 139 and the Man Of The Series award for his 361 runs and 6 wickets in the series.

West Indies 304/2 (50 overs)
Gayle 152*, Chanderpaul 85, Powell 49*;

South Africa 310/6 (49.4 overs)
Kallis 139, Smith 58; Rampaul 2/56

South Africa win by 4 wickets and win the series 3-1.

Posted by Peter