Defiant Kemp leads SAfrica recovery in record stand

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov 26 (Reuters) A defiant maiden century by Justin Kemp in a record-breaking stand spurred a brilliant South African recovery in the third one-day international against India today.

Kemp's 100 not out was the top score as South Africa rallied from 76 for six to a total of 274 for seven.

Kemp, who came to the crease at 71 for five and survived chances on nine and 34, faced 89 balls and hit six fours and seven sixes in an innings of effortlessly wielded power.

The 138 runs that Kemp and Andrew Hall (56) shared in their unbroken stand came at 9.74 an over and was a world one-day record for the eighth wicket.

The previous record was the 119 runs that Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel put on for Australia against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1993-94.

Graeme Smith was on his way back to the dressing room just two balls into the match after he was bowled for nought by an inswinger from left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

Two balls after that, and still without a run on the board, lynchpin batsman Jacques Kallis steered another of Khan's deliveries into the hands of Sachin Tendulkar at first slip.

Khan dismissed Loots Bosman in similar fashion for six and South Africa dwindled to 42 for four in the 12th over when Herschelle Gibbs slapped a wide half-volley from Irfan Pathan to Mohammad Kaif at short extra cover.

The aggressive Gibbs hit seven fours in his 35 and then AB de Villiers (4) and Mark Boucher (29) were dismissed in the space of four deliveries.

Kemp and Shaun Pollock shared a vital stand of 60 but that was ended when Pollock was run out for 33.

South Africa lead the five-match series 1-0.

REUTERS PDS KN1758