Sublime Kallis puts South Africa on top

Close England 139 and 30 for 0 (Trescothick 7*, Strauss 21*) trail South Africa 332 (Kallis 162, Pollock 43) by 163 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball

A masterful century from Jacques Kallis put South Africa firmly in control of the second Test on the second day at Durban as they took a first-innings lead of 193 runs. England's batsmen chipped away in reply as the lights came on, but they head into the third day under the kosh, trailing by 163.

England's tiring pace attack threw everything at the classy Kallis throughout the day but he never wavered. When he finally fell for 162 - pulling Matthew Hoggard to the waiting substitute Paul Collingwood on the leg-side boundary - South Africa were in the box seat and they were odds-on favourites to level the series.

It was a remarkable rescue act by Kallis, who dragged South Africa from 118 for 6 to 332, with some capable assistance from a reinforced lower order. Shaun Pollock contributed 43 in a stand of 87 which took the home side ahead. Then Makhaya Ntini upped the ante, striking 22 and scoring only in boundaries as his four fours and a six formed part of another vital partnership with Kallis. Between them, they struck 50 in 58 balls.

But the day belonged to Kallis, who was patient at first, grinding down the bowlers in the heat and leaving anything outside off stump before he cut loose after tea. His chanceless century was the embodiment of exemplary concentration as he peppered shots to all parts, and a glorious straight drive back past Matthew Hoggard brought up his fifth century of 2004, and the 18th of his career. From then on, he stroked boundary after boundary as he found his groove.

Geraint Jones celebrates as Shaun Pollock falls for 43 to the part-time offspin of Michael Vaughan © Cricinfo/Neil Lane

England's pace bowlers were up against it from the off as Ashley Giles was off the field all day with back spasms. Michael Vaughan sent down ten overs of his occasional offspin to allow the pace attack some respite - but they had no answer to the majestic innings of Kallis and the tailenders.

Pollock eventually fell to Vaughan, as he chased one down the leg side and edged to Geraint Jones, but not before he had worked hard to gain the home side an important advantage. And there was no let up after Pollock's departure, as the handy Nicky Boje joined Kallis in punishing the bad balls and keeping the score ticking over. Hoggard removed Boje for 15 as Paul Collingwood tumbled forward at point to take a good, low catch (243 for 8).

Yet if England thought they could finish it off quickly they were wrong and, in fact, worse was to come as South Africa piled up 89 for the last two wickets. Ntini's intent immediately showed as he launched a towering six off Hoggard to get off the mark, before Kallis added another off Andrew Flintoff for good measure. Ntini's typical tailender's swish was then matched by Dale Steyn who swung the bat with abandon.

At the start of the day, Graeme Smith said he would be happy with an advantage of 200 runs. This looked nothing more than a fanciful late addition to his Christmas list, after his team were wobbling on 90 for 5 as England's bowlers worked tirelessly and Kallis stayed in his shell, albeit defiantly.

False dawn: Andrew Flintoff bowls Martin van Jaarsveld © Cricinfo/Neil Lane

South Africa had started the day on 70 for 3, but after a loosener which Kallis drove through mid-on for three, Flintoff struck. Martin van Jaarsveld, whose footwork is not one of his strengths, was caught leaden footed and his half-hearted defensive jab crashed into his middle stump via an inside edge (80 for 4). England had the breakthrough - but it was hardly deserved after some loose bowling early on.

Hashim Amla made just 1 amid a painful battering in his baptism into Test cricket when he received a brute from Harmison which he failed to evade and a gloved edge arced to Geraint Jones (90 for 5). AB de Villiers (14) smacked two delightful fours and, for the first time, South Africa were taking the attack to England. But he came unstuck when Jones surprised him with bounce and extra pace and a checked pull looped gently to Graham Thorpe at midwicket.

But in came Pollock to join Kallis as Smith's lower order rallied, duly delivering just seven short of his desired 200-run lead. England made a decent fist of chipping away at their reply before the close, as Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss steered them to 30 without loss. And another chink of light for England's batsmen: the pitch could get flatter. But they now really have their work cut out to overcome this total and get back in the game.