Kallis' second century in match turns series-decider

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):

Jacques Kallis endured painful chest injuries and the pressure of an early batting collapse to hit his second century of the deciding third Test and all but save South Africa's series against India.

Kallis' 109 not out rescued the Proteas from 98-5 and 130-6 on day four at Newlands yesterday to lead the home team to 341 all out at stumps - for a remarkable 339-run lead.

The 35-year-old Kallis hit eight fours in his 40th Test century and shared a match-turning 103-run partnership with Mark Boucher (55) and a 52-run stand with Dale Steyn (32) on a deteriorating batting pitch - with the added distraction of a side-muscle strain and bruised rib that has prevented him from fielding in the match.

Kallis reeled away in pain constantly after playing shots, slumped to his knees, grimaced in pain and at one point lay flat out for treatment on the side of the pitch.

"I don't think anyone understands how much pain he is in," said Boucher. "The doctor told me its like breaking your own rib.

"Today was a pressure situation and we got ourselves out of a difficult position. It feels so good when you handle the pressure and come out on top. There were two pressure situations there."

South Africa's last four wickets added 211 runs under the leadership of Kallis to effectively end India's hopes of a first series win in five attempts in South Africa.

Highest-ever winning

Set 340 to win the Test and the series - which is tied at 1-1 - India need the highest-ever winning fourth innings score at Newlands on the last day today.

Offspinner Harbhajan Singh claimed 7-120, but India lost their stranglehold on the match through a combination of lacklustre fast bowling and Kallis' brilliance.

"I'm happy I got wickets, but not happy Kallis got runs," Harbhajan said. "We thought we would be chasing 200, but now we are chasing 340.

"I thought we could have created more chances with our fast bowlers, but he [Kallis] showed what a player he is to get runs on a difficult pitch."

Just four overs into the day, top-ranked India appeared to be on course for victory in Cape Town - and a historic series win - when Harbhajan spun out his fourth batsman to have second-ranked South Africa 64-4.

The rampant Harbhajan dismissed opener Alviro Petersen (22) and Hashim Amla (2) in the second and fourth overs of the day as South Africa - who were 52-2 overnight after Harbhajan removed captain Graeme Smith and Paul Harris - slumped.

Left-arm fast-bowler Zaheer Khan then blasted out AB de Villiers for 13, when the batsman chopped onto his own stumps and at 98-5, South Africa had a lead of just 96 with only two recognized batsmen left.

South Africa was again left to rely heavily on hometown player Kallis, who inspired the Proteas with 161 in the first innings. Kallis hit three fours before lunch to steady the hosts, but was also seriously hampered by the muscle strain he picked up during his 39th Test century on Monday.

The all-rounder was more comfortable after lunch - and some intensive treatment - and combined with Boucher and then later Steyn and Morkel - who hit 28 off 45 balls - to bat India out of the match with one of his grittiest centuries.

He is the only South African to make two centuries in a Test on two occasions.

Kallis added another five fours in the afternoon, cutting, sweeping and driving - and still flinching - as his eighth Test century in his home city took him to 40 career hundreds in Test cricket and past Australia's Ricky Ponting.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 51, has more.

"After Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis is the best player in the world," said Harbhajan. "That's what I think."

Boucher added: "In my opinion, we have one of the greatest cricketers who's ever lived. Now, the mood in the camp is good and we are now hungry to have a go at India's batsmen."