Kallis anchors innings before Pakistan strike

LAHORE, Oct 8 (Reuters) Jacques Kallis continued to shine with the bat as he notched a battling half century to help South Africa reach 160 for four at tea on the first day of the second test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi stadium today.

Kallis (59), who scored his 45th test fifty, was dismissed in the final over before the interval after adding 60 runs with Ashwell Prince (23 not out) for the fourth wicket.

Leg-spinner, Danish Kaneria struck two vital blows for his team in the second session, first getting rid of Graeme Smith (46) and than Kallis after the visitors had opted to bat first.

Smith was bowled by a fine delivery that spun sharply to drift between his bat and pad and Kallis was trapped leg before wicket just when he had started to go on the offensive.

Kallis faced 115 balls and hit eight fours and one six and had earlier put on 53 with Smith, who battled for 90 balls and 153 minutes to hit four boundaries.

Kallis came in with his team struggling on 47-2 and started from where he had left off in the first test in Karachi, where he made 155 and 100 not out to help the tourists win the opener of the two-test series by 160 runs.

He reached his fifty with two superb drives through the covers in one Umar Gul over and than greeted left arm spinner, Abdul Rehman with a four and a six in his first over.

South Africa lost Herschelle Gibbs (13) and Hashim Amla (10) quickly on a pitch offering more bounce to the bowlers than the Karachi strip had.

Gibbs lunged at a full length outswinger from Gul to spoon a catch to Misbah-ul-Haq at gully at the total of 24 and Amla shouldered up to have his off stump knocked back by Asif who got one to jag back appreciably.

REUTERS BJR RK1718