Kent Test Tourists Ahead Of First Test

JP Duming played delightfully against the spin of Adam Riley.

Hashim Amla continued his good form ahead of the first Test.

Kent Test Tourists Ahead Of First Test

Jacques Kallis turns one to leg during his fluent 54.

©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic

Kent 210 & 105-0 (Northeast 54no) drew with
South Africans 314 (Amla 77, Kallis 54, Rudolph 50)
Tour Match, Canterbury, Day Three

Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph all hit half centuries as South Africa’s middle-order took the opportunity to find some form ahead of next week’s first Test. Kent hit back later in the day, taking the last five wickets to fall for just 49 runs, with their openers then impressing against the tourists’ new ball attack.

The day began on time, but it took the South Africans 27 balls before they scored their first run as Simon Cook and Ivan Thomas bowled accurately. However, once into their stride, Kallis and Amla played with some aggression; the former driving off-spinner Adam Riley through the covers in his opening over, and then bringing up his fifty shortly afterwards.

They both retired out at the end of the 55th over – Amla for 77 from 132 balls and Kallis for 54 from 80 – to bring AB de Villiers and Jacques Rudolph to the crease just prior to lunch. De Villiers played extravagantly and hit three boundaries before pulling Matt Coles to Daniel Bell-Drummond in the deep. 

After the break, Duminy joined Rudolph and the pair played in a largely circumspect manner, except for the time when Duminy launched Riley over his head for six. Kent took the second new ball at the first opportunity and Thomas had Duminy playing onto his stumps for 34 to begin the home side’s fightback. 

Vernon Philander went second ball for a duck, while Dale Steyn was trapped in front by Riley, who came back impressively, also removing Rudolph in the 92nd over for 50 from 115 balls. Morne Morkel then hit a couple of lusty blows, before he was dispatched by Charlie Shreck and the South Africans were all out for 314.

For Kent’s second innings, Morne Morkel was promoted to open the bowling alongside Philander as the tourists shuffled their attack in order to give all six of their frontline bowlers a bowl. Unfortunately for them, they proved ineffective as Kent’s openers added over 100 for the first wicket with Sam Northeast (53 not out from 69 balls) leading the way and Daniel Bell-Drummond (48 from 66 balls) also playing confidently. They finished on 105 for none and will be pleased with the way they have performed against one of the best Test sides in the world.

© Cricket World 2012