CRICKET:JACQUES KALLIS made a career-best double hundred to help leave South Africa in a strong position at the close of day two in the decisive third Test against Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
Kallis, having yesterday achieved the feat of scoring centuries against every Test-playing nation by reaching three figures, finally fell for 224, while AB de Villiers contributed an unbeaten 160 as South Africa made a daunting 580 for four declared.
Sri Lanka then continued the run-fest by racing to 149 for two in reply by stumps, with captain Tillakaratne Dilshan scoring a quickfire 78 at the top of the order.
That still left the tourists 431 runs adrift, though, and they will be hoping veteran duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who finished the day unbeaten on 35 and seven respectively, can take a significant chunk out of that deficit today.
For the second successive day the bowlers were made to toil as both the South African and Sri Lanka batsmen enjoyed their time in the middle at Newlands.
All-rounder Kallis resumed this morning on 159 opposite De Villiers, who was on 45 not out, with the hosts in a commanding position on 347 for three.
Kallis, who got a pair in the second Test defeat, built on his sublime showing the previous day to rack up his double century yesterday but fell victim to Rangana Herath when his attempted smash to long-on could only find the grateful hands of Angelo Mathews.
Departing on 224, from 325 balls and boasting 31 fours and a six, Kallis was given a standing ovation as he returned to the pavilion.
Kallis survived two dropped catches by Jayawardene in the slips. Jayawardene missed a chance off seamer Dhammika Prasad at second slip when Kallis was on 171 and a tougher chance at first slip with Kallis on 183.
His departure brought about the break for lunch before De Villiers motored from 84 to reach 160 – off 205 balls and featuring 19 fours and two sixes – while Jacques Rudolph (51) also collected a half-century before the declaration came.
Sri Lanka took the attack to their opponents when they came out to bat and openers Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne put on 70 in less than 15 overs before the latter was bowled by Morne Morkel for 23.
Sangakarra joined Dilshan at the crease and the pair put on another half-century stand before South Africa made their second breakthrough. Dilshan, after striking 12 fours in run-a-ball 78, went after Imran Tahir and picked out Graeme Smith at long on.
That was a late blow for Sri Lanka but key duo Sangakkara and Jayawardene ensured there were no more setbacks before stumps. The three-Test series is level at 1-1.
