Kallis steers South Africa to respectable total

DURBAN, South Africa, Nov 22 (Reuters) Jacques Kallis scored his first limited overs century in two years to steer South Africa to a respectable total in the second one-day international against India in Durban today.

Kallis' chanceless 119 not out anchored South Africa's 248 for eight, which they scored after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Number three batsman Kallis last scored a one-day century on August 31, 2004, when he made 101 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Kallis faced 160 balls and hit 15 fours in his innings, which was his first century in 38 one-day internationals and the first of his career against India.

Kallis came to the crease in the 10th over after left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan had reduced South Africa to 47 for two by trapping Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman lbw for scores of one and 22 respectively.

Fast bowler Munaf Patel had Herschelle Gibbs caught behind by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni before AB de Villiers helped Kallis steady the innings with a stand of 87 for the fourth wicket.

Left-arm spinner Dinesh Mongia ended the partnership in the 34th over when De Villiers, who scored 41, attempted a reverse sweep and was smartly stumped by Dhoni.

Mark Boucher's cameo of 23 off 21 balls formed part of a fifth-wicket stand of 46, but India fought back to take four wickets in the last eight overs of the innings.

Patel was the pick of the attack with his return of two for 39, while Khan and Agarkar also took two wickets each.

The weak link in the Indian attack was off spinner Harbhajan Singh, who failed to restrict the flow of runs and conceded 59 runs in his 10 overs.

REUTERS SP ND2224