It is the end of the First Day (out of a maximum of five) of the First Test between South Africa and England, and South Africa demonstrated why they are ranked No2 in the world.
The Springboks, recently overtaken to the top spot in the world rankings by India, recovered from 70-2 at lunch to have a score of 262-4 at the end of today's play against England at Centurion in Pretoria.
It may be December, but it seems like England suffered from the sweltering South African heat - December is the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Today's play started at 8.30am British time and finished at 4pm British time, meaning the England players now probably look like lobsters.
South Africa made a bad start, losing two early wickets, Smith going out for nought after being caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Prince scoring a respectable 45 before a ball bowled to him by Collingwood was caught by Swann.
But Jacques Kallis made the score more to South Africa's liking, scoring an unbeaten 112. It took him 177 balls, with 13 fours and one six, to score his 32nd 100 in Test matches. He'll be looking to score at least 150 in total tomorrow.
De Villiers ton put South Africa on top in First Test
By Simon Briggs at Centurion
16 Dec 2009
The Telegraph
South Africa VS England (At Centurion)
First Day of the First Test
1st Innings
South Africa: 262-4
South Africa: Smith (C), Prince, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers, Duminy, Boucher (W), Morkel, Harris, Ntini, de Wet
England: Strauss (C), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior (W), Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions
**************************************
South Africa Scorecard
Smith.....c Prior.....b Broad.....0
Prince.....c Collingwood.....b Swann.....45
Amla.....c Collingwood.....b Onions.....19
Kallis............not out.................112
de Villiers.....c Cook.....b Swann.....32
Duminy...........not out................38
Extras......5w..1b..10lb................16
Total (for 4) ............................262
Raising the game: Jacques Kallis scored a majestic ton on day one Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Joy: England celebrate with Graeme Swann after spinner broke through Ashwell Prince's defence Photo: GETTY IMAGES
South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis completed his 32nd Test century as England battled in the heat of Pretoria. Resuming on 51 not out after tea Kallis' progress was remorseless and controlled, making good use of one of the finest batting techniques in world cricket today.
His greatest moment of uneasiness actually came in bringing up his milestone as he mishooked Stuart Broad high to fine leg where Graham Onions could not make sufficient ground to catch it and the four runs were enough for yet another Kallis celebration. Otherwise there was, on England's part, a depressing air of inevitability about his progress. His hundred took him 177 balls, with 13 fours and one six, and he finished the day 112 not out.
Man down: South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was the first batsman to be dismissed in the series
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
South Africa did not lose a wicket in the session, progressing from 159-4 to 262-4, as JP Duminy kept Kallis company with a cultured 38 not out. The left-hander provided the stroke of the session with a delightfully struck six over long-on from Graeme Swann's off-spin.
Further bad news for England was that fast bowler Onions, undoubtedly the pick of the bowlers earlier in the day, has a strained right calf. He did not take the field immediately after tea, and, although he did return after nine overs of the session, he did not bowl until the final three overs of the day. At least he did not show any obvious signs of discomfort, but England will monitor his fitness anxiously overnight. It is also to be hoped that rumours that Broad has a tight hamstring prove unfounded.
Running on: Stuart Broad successfully appeals as Graeme Smith is caught behind for nought
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
There was even a first bowl in Test cricket during the session for Jonathan Trott, but the final two balls of his second over of medium pace were driven for four by Kallis and he was instantly removed from the attack.
England took the new ball after 81 overs, but it was to no avail. There was the odd hint of some inconsistent bounce (one earlier scuttler from James Anderson almost did for Kallis), but in general this now looks a good pitch. Certainly England skipper Andrew Strauss would have been hoping for more than four wickets when he inserted South Africa in the morning.
Just in time: Hashim Amla evades a run-out attempt
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Waiting game: England players look to the scoreboard after South Africa referred an lbw decision
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
... but Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was going over the top of the stumps, and the decision was reversed
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
First up: England spinner Graeme Swann breaks through in his first over
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Finding the time: England's Kevin Pietersen signs a few autographs for South Africa fans
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Hitting out: Jacques Kallis shows Graeme Swann little respect at Centurion
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
telegraph.co.uk
The Springboks, recently overtaken to the top spot in the world rankings by India, recovered from 70-2 at lunch to have a score of 262-4 at the end of today's play against England at Centurion in Pretoria.
It may be December, but it seems like England suffered from the sweltering South African heat - December is the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Today's play started at 8.30am British time and finished at 4pm British time, meaning the England players now probably look like lobsters.
South Africa made a bad start, losing two early wickets, Smith going out for nought after being caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Prince scoring a respectable 45 before a ball bowled to him by Collingwood was caught by Swann.
But Jacques Kallis made the score more to South Africa's liking, scoring an unbeaten 112. It took him 177 balls, with 13 fours and one six, to score his 32nd 100 in Test matches. He'll be looking to score at least 150 in total tomorrow.
De Villiers ton put South Africa on top in First Test
By Simon Briggs at Centurion
16 Dec 2009
The Telegraph
South Africa VS England (At Centurion)
First Day of the First Test
1st Innings
South Africa: 262-4
South Africa: Smith (C), Prince, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers, Duminy, Boucher (W), Morkel, Harris, Ntini, de Wet
England: Strauss (C), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior (W), Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions
South Africa Scorecard
Smith.....c Prior.....b Broad.....0
Prince.....c Collingwood.....b Swann.....45
Amla.....c Collingwood.....b Onions.....19
Kallis............not out.................112
de Villiers.....c Cook.....b Swann.....32
Duminy...........not out................38
Extras......5w..1b..10lb................16
Total (for 4) ............................262
Raising the game: Jacques Kallis scored a majestic ton on day one Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Joy: England celebrate with Graeme Swann after spinner broke through Ashwell Prince's defence Photo: GETTY IMAGES
South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis completed his 32nd Test century as England battled in the heat of Pretoria. Resuming on 51 not out after tea Kallis' progress was remorseless and controlled, making good use of one of the finest batting techniques in world cricket today.
His greatest moment of uneasiness actually came in bringing up his milestone as he mishooked Stuart Broad high to fine leg where Graham Onions could not make sufficient ground to catch it and the four runs were enough for yet another Kallis celebration. Otherwise there was, on England's part, a depressing air of inevitability about his progress. His hundred took him 177 balls, with 13 fours and one six, and he finished the day 112 not out.
Man down: South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was the first batsman to be dismissed in the series
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
South Africa did not lose a wicket in the session, progressing from 159-4 to 262-4, as JP Duminy kept Kallis company with a cultured 38 not out. The left-hander provided the stroke of the session with a delightfully struck six over long-on from Graeme Swann's off-spin.
Further bad news for England was that fast bowler Onions, undoubtedly the pick of the bowlers earlier in the day, has a strained right calf. He did not take the field immediately after tea, and, although he did return after nine overs of the session, he did not bowl until the final three overs of the day. At least he did not show any obvious signs of discomfort, but England will monitor his fitness anxiously overnight. It is also to be hoped that rumours that Broad has a tight hamstring prove unfounded.
Running on: Stuart Broad successfully appeals as Graeme Smith is caught behind for nought
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
There was even a first bowl in Test cricket during the session for Jonathan Trott, but the final two balls of his second over of medium pace were driven for four by Kallis and he was instantly removed from the attack.
England took the new ball after 81 overs, but it was to no avail. There was the odd hint of some inconsistent bounce (one earlier scuttler from James Anderson almost did for Kallis), but in general this now looks a good pitch. Certainly England skipper Andrew Strauss would have been hoping for more than four wickets when he inserted South Africa in the morning.
Just in time: Hashim Amla evades a run-out attempt
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Waiting game: England players look to the scoreboard after South Africa referred an lbw decision
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
... but Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was going over the top of the stumps, and the decision was reversed
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
First up: England spinner Graeme Swann breaks through in his first over
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Finding the time: England's Kevin Pietersen signs a few autographs for South Africa fans
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Hitting out: Jacques Kallis shows Graeme Swann little respect at Centurion
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
telegraph.co.uk
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