De Villiers, Kallis pile agony on India in Centurion Test (Lunch report)

CENTURION - AB de Villiers scored a punishing century while Jacques Kallis reached closer to his maiden double ton as South Africa extended their lead to a massive 455 runs at lunch on the third day of the first cricket Test against India here Saturday.

At the break, South Africa raced to 591 for three with De Villiers on 119 and Kallis 183.

India, who reached the shores of South Africa holding tightly to the number one spot in Tests for close to a year, are staring at one of their heaviest defeats in recent times.

Resuming at overnight 366/2, South Africa smashed 225 runs in 36 overs, scoring at a rate of over six runs with De Villiers racing to the fastest century by a South African in a Test.

The only wicket to fall in the session was of Hashim Amla, who got out to Ishant Sharma after scoring 140.

The domination of the South African batsmen can be gauged from the fact that all three of the five top-order players have cracked centuries while the two others have made half-centuries. This on a track where India were shot out for 136 in the first innings.

Amla added 24 runs to his overnight score before being caught behind off Sharma.

Kallis and De Villiers then stepped on the accelerator, making the clueless Indian bowling attack appear ordinary. They scored at a breathtaking pace, raising 195 runs in just 30.3 overs.

As shoulders of the Indian players drooped with every hit to the fence, they hardly looked the World’s top Test side. It was now up to South Afrrica to end their agony and declare.

De Villiers hit 11 fours and five sixes in 119 balls while Kallis, who scored his 38th Test century Friday, struck three fours and two sixes Saturday.

De Villiers tore apart the bowling, scoring his 12th century. He brought off his century in style hitting Suresh Raina for two consecutive sixes and Kallis ended the over hitting part-time spinner for another six in the last ball.