Gibbs, Kallis pile on WI agony

Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis established records as South Africa enforced their batting superiority on the second day of the fourth T...

Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis established records as South Africa enforced their batting superiority on the second day of the fourth Test against West Indies on Saturday. Gibbs made 192, the highest score by a South African in Tests against West Indies, while Kallis became the first South African to score centuries in four consecutive Tests with an unbeaten 130.

When bad light halted play eight overs before the scheduled close, West Indies were 7/0 in reply to South Africa’s imposing first innings score of 604/6 declared. Chris Gayle was on four with Daren Ganga on two.

Earlier in the day, Gibbs fell eight runs short of his third double century. Opener Gibbs, who shared a stand of 301 for the first wicket with Graeme Smith, batted for almost eight hours, faced 335 balls and hit 24 fours and three sixes. Gibbs was at his most dismissive before lunch in consecutive overs from fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Mervyn Dillon. He cut Edwards savagely through point for four, and sauntered towards square leg showing no sign of celebration. Nine balls later Gibbs pulled Dillon over midwicket for a six that sailed into the furthest row of spectators, again showing little sign of satisfaction at his feat.

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Gibbs and Jacques Rudolph resumed on 301 for two, and took their partnership to 72 before a ball from Edwards stayed low and bowled Rudolph for 37.

Gibbs was out in the seventh over after lunch when he cut a wide long hop from part-time leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan to Daren Ganga at backward point. Sarwan took his second wicket six overs later when Gary Kirsten slapped a full toss back to the bowler to be caught and bowled for 10.

West Indies again failed to threaten the batsmen, despite the overhead cloud conditions that aided swing bowling and a pitch that has shown signs of inconsistent bounce.

Brief Scores

SA (1st innings): 604-6 decl (H Gibbs 192, G Smith 139, J Kallis 130 n.o., N McKenzie 40, J Rudolph 37; R Sarwan 2/55) vs West Indies (1st innings): 7-0.