Jacques Kallis hits ton after England set early pace

Jacques Kallis hit his 33rd century in Tests as South Africa recovered from 127-5 to reach 279-6 on day one of the third Test against England.

Kallis made a chanceless unbeaten 108, and featured in an 89-run stand with Mark Boucher (51) for the sixth wicket.

James Anderson and Graeme Swann each took two wickets for England, who opted to field first on winning the toss.South Africa dropped Makhaya Ntini for Friedel de Wet in the only change made by either side at picturesque Newlands.

After England won the toss and put South Africa in to bat, the focus in Cape Town quickly switched to how South Africa could overturn their 1-0 deficit in the series.And that they still had a reasonable chance to do so when stumps were drawn was all because of Kallis.

This three-figure score put him fifth on the all-time list of Test century-makers as he went ahead of Steve Waugh, and one ton shy of Brian Lara in fourth place.

De Villiers now pounced on a couple of shorter balls from Swann to hit boundaries but had not made good his escape when justice was done for England. Attempting to clip a ball through the on-side he tamely chipped a catch to Strauss at short mid-wicket and England celebrated wildly as they ended an important 76-run partnership.

There was more joy to come from the very next ball when JP Duminy got a thin edge and Prior did the rest, leaving South Africa in strife with half their wickets gone and 150 not yet on the board.

Boucher, one of the South Africans whose position in the side has been questioned, responded to the situation with some positive cricket, including three consecutive fours in a rare poor Swann over.

By tea, Kallis had reached his half-century and South Africa were 183-5, but there was reverse swing on offer now for England's bowlers.

Eventually, Broad capitalised with a delivery that curved back into Boucher, removing the right-hander lbw.

South Africa pushed Dale Steyn two places up the order from his customary number 10 berth, and he responded solidly as Kallis reached his century by driving a wide full-toss from Kevin Pietersen to the extra-cover fence.

It had been a masterful innings from the 34-year-old whose most alarming moment came when he top-edged a pull shot over the slip cordon.

If there was only one really memorable shot played, a dreamy on-drive for four off Onions, it was a classic example of how building an innings in Test cricket is all about high-quality defence and putting away the bad ball.