Windies make positive reply to SA's 543-6 dec

BASSETERRE, ST KITTS (AP): Jacques Kallis and A.B. de Villiers scored confident centuries yesterday to lead South Africa to a formidable 543-6 declared against the West Indies on day two of the second cricket Test.

Kallis scored 110, his 35th Test century, and also became the sixth player to achieve 11,000 Test runs. The 34-year-old South African struck 12 fours and a six off 227 balls.

The West Indies replied positively, reaching 86-1 off 23.2 overs with captain Chris Gayle unbeaten on 42 off 67 balls before bad light ended play eight minutes early. Narsingh Deonarine is 33 not out.

The 26-year-old de Villiers blasted a top score for South Africa of 135 not out, spiced with 13 fours and six sixes. He also passed a milestone, crossing 4,000 Test runs during his 168 deliveries and 280 minutes in the middle.

well placed

South Africa, already well placed on 296-3 after captain Graeme Smith's century on the first day, further extended their dominance in the morning session. West Indies took the new ball half hour into the day, but all the bowlers struggled to make an impact.

Kemar Roach struck Kallis on his helmet with one bouncer, but he shook that off emphatically and played some majestic strokes.

Kallis lunched nervously on 99 not out with de Villiers one short of 50 and South Africa on 398-3.

Both players celebrated soon after the break.

De Villiers got there first, before Kallis cracked left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn for his 11th four to reach three figures.

Kallis, who joined Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and Allan Border in the 11,000-run club, eventually fell to a top-edged sweep to deep backward square leg off Shane Shillingford at 421-4.

Kallis and de Villiers had shared a stand of 138 for the fourth wicket.

Ashwell Prince (9) and Mark Boucher (17) soon followed cheaply. Left-hander Prince miscued a pull at Benn to midwicket, while Boucher was run out by Brendan Nash's direct hit from short fine leg.

But de Villiers never lost focus and brought up his 10th century in his 60th Test with a four and a six off successive balls from Benn.

South Africa declared just after tea to leave the hosts an uncomfortable final session.

Morne Morkel provided an early breakthrough at 13-1 when Travis Dowlin deflected to third slip where de Villiers pouched a diving catch.

South Africa 1st innings (overnight 296 for three)

J. Kallis c Rampaul b Shillingford 110AB de Villiers not out 135A. Prince c Gayle b Benn 9+M. Boucher run out 17D. Steyn not out 20Extras (lb5, w2, nb17) 24TOTAL (6 wkts dec; 147 overs) 543

Did not bat: P Harris, M Morkel, L Tsotsobe.

Fall of wickets: 1-99 (Petersen), 2-211 (Amla), 3-283 (Smith), 4-421 (Kallis), 5-442 (Prince), 6-490 (Boucher).

Bowling: Roach 22-4-72-1, Rampaul 18-4-65-0, Benn 30-3-124-1, Bravo 18-2-58-0, Shillingford 52-4-193-3, Deonarine 3-0-20-0, Nash 4-0-6-0.

West Indies 1st innings

C. Gayle not out 42T. Dowlin c de Villiers b Morkel 10N. Deonarine not out 33Extras (nb1) 1TOTAL (1 wkt; 23.2 overs) 86

To bat: B Nash, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, +D Ramdin, S Shillingford, S Benn, K Roach, R Rampaul.

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Dowlin).

Bowling: Steyn 7.2-2-15-0, Morkel 6-0-29-1, Tsotsobe 4-0-19-0, Harris 6-0-23-0.

Position: West Indies trail by 457 runs.

Toss: South Africa.

Umpires: Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel; TV - Steve Davis.

Match referee: Jeff Crowe.