HAMILTON, March 14: South Africa's Jacques Kallis has his sights set on equalling Don Bradman's record of six centuries in successive Test matches in the next game against New Zealand, starting on Thursday.
Kallis's unbeaten 150, his fifth century in as many Tests, was the highlight of Sunday's play as South Africa drew the first Test in Hamilton. "I'm really proud of the achievement and am greatly honoured to be named in the same company," Kallis said.
"I'll be making a sixth hundred as my next goal for Auckland. I'm really enjoying my cricket at the moment and when you have some good form it is important to keep going."
Australian Bradman, considered the greatest batsman in the history of the game, set the record between 1936 and 1938. Kallis scored 158 and 44, 177, 73 and 130 not out and another unbeaten 130 against West Indies in South Africa before the three-Test series in New Zealand.
In the first innings of this Test Kallis was out for 92 and the New Zealand side clapped him off the field when South Africa declared their second innings at 313 for four just after tea on the final day.
New Zealand, whose 509 had given them a first innings lead of 50, were set an impossible target of 264 runs for victory and had reached 39 for one at close of play.
The batsman out, only the second dismissal of the day, was Michael Papps for 12. He was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Andre Nel, to give the big South African bowler his first wicket of the match.
The only South African wicket to fall on Sunday was Neil McKenzie, who shared a 107-run stand with Kallis, before being caught at short-forward square by Mark Richardson off Paul Wiseman for 52.
The New Zealand bowlers toiled well, but on a pitch that had a football-sized crater causing problems at one end, it was otherwise tame enough to protect the diligent batsman.
Play was held up for five minutes when a couple of balls reared off a good length to South African left-hander Gary Kirsten. Match referee Clive Lloyd was called on to the pitch to confer with the umpires, apparently regarding the safety of the players and the batsmen in particular.
