Kallis strikes ton in farewell Test, leaves India battling

South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis waves his bat as he salutes the fans after he was dismissed for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.

Durban: Jacques Kallis made his swansong match a memorable one by hitting his 45th Test hundred as India faced a daunting task of batting out the entire fifth day to save the series-deciding second cricket Test against South Africa, here.

Kallis ensured that he left the Test arena in a blaze of glory with a fluent 115 as the home team posted a mammoth 500 in their first innings to take a sizeable 166-run lead.

India vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Match Updates

India lost both the openers Murali Vijay (6) and Shikhar Dhawan (19) before reaching 68 for two on yet another rain-marred day, still needing 98 runs to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.

Cheteshwar Pujara (32) and Virat Kohli (11) will resume India's battle tomorrow.

Pujara and Dhawan had batted with caution after paceman Vernon Philander had Vijay caught in the slips. But Faf du Plessis took a spectacular one-handed catch to send back Dhawan, who played uppishly in the mid-wicket region and failed to clear the fielder.

It was yet another waste of a watchful start by Dhawan, who ended this Test series with scores of 13,15, 29 and 19.

With one day left in the match, the visitors have to bat out the final day to share the honours in the two-match series. The first Test in Johannesburg had ended in a thrilling draw.

South Africa on the other hand need to take eight wickets on a tricky fifth day track at the Kingsmead to give Kallis a perfect gift in his farewell match.

Beginning at the overnight score of 299 for five, Kallis scored 115 off 316 balls with 13 boundaries while lower-order batsman Robin Peterson played a 61-run cameo before their innings folded for exactly 500.

Left-arm spinner Ravidra Jadeja was the pick of the bowler for India with six wickets for 138 runs while paceman Zaheer Khan took two wickets at the expense of 97 runs.

Hashim Amla leaves the field after the little finger on his right hand was struck whilst fielding on the fourth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday. Cheteshwar Pujara takes evasive action against a bouncer on the fourth day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.Shikhar Dhawan, left, rides the bounce to defend a short ball as South Africa's captain Graeme Smith, right, watches on the forth day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.Shikhar Dhawan, left, avoids a bouncer as South Africa's bowler Jacques Kallis, right, watches on the fourth day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.India's Murali Vijay leaves the field after being dismissed by South Africa's bowler Vernon Philander, for 6 runs on the fourth day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Francois du Plessis is run out by India's fielder Rohit Sharma, for 43 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Robin Peterson plays a shot on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Robin Peterson, right, plays a shot as India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, watches on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Robin Peterson watches his shot on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, second from left, walks up the stair to the players pavilion as teammates embrace him after being dismissed for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, second from left, walks up the stair to the players pavilion as teammates embrace him after being dismissed for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on SundaySouth Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis waves his bat as he salutes the fans after he was dismissed for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis waves his bat as he salutes the fans after dismissed for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.India's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, left, celebrates as teammate Rohit Sharma, right, watches after dismissing South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.India's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, left, celebrates as teammate Rohit Sharma, right, watches after dismissing South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, for 115 runs on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis celebrates his century on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis celebrates his century on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, celebrates his century as India's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, right, watches on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, celebrates his century on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, celebrates his century with teammate Dale Steyn on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Dale Steyn plays a shot on the forth day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, plays a side shot as India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, on the forth day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.A cricket fan waves the national team's flag during the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, center, appeals unsuccessfuly for LBW against South Africa's batsman Alviro Petersen, left, during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APJacques Kallis, right, walks to the field as India's players form a guard of honor on second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Abraham Benjamin de Villiers dives home safely after a run out attempt on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, raises his bat whilst leaving the field with India's players after play had been cut short due to bad light on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Dale Steyn celebrates after dismissing India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for 24 runs during the second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - AP

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Transition phase completed as Tendulkar bids farewell in 2013

New Delhi: A legend walking into sunset after an illustrious career, a bunch of bravehearts asserting India's supremacy in the limited overs format and a phenomenally talented cricketer choosing the path of self destruction by indulging in spot-fixing, were the highlights of Indian cricket in the eventful 2013.

While cricket had its usual quota of the good, the bad and the ugly but Sachin Tendulkar's retirement after serving the country for 24 long years and giving joy to billions across the globe was certainly the most moving moment of the year.

It indeed was a 'Farewell to Remember' when Tendulkar played his 200th and final Test match at his homeground Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His last innings in Test cricket bore testimony to legendary status -- an innings that was high on quality and aesthetic value for those who had loved the 'Game of glorious uncertainties'.

The euphoria and outpouring of the fans during his farewell series would forever remain unmatched. Sir Don Bradman may have had the best average but when it came to love and affection, Tendulkar had outscored the iconic Australian by a fair distance.

200 Test matches, 100 international centuries, more than 50,000 runs across all formats at the senior level are not just numbers or milestones for the cricket crazy Indians. These are figures that every fan treasures with a sense of belonging. His farewell speech at the Wankhede on November 16 will forever be etched in the memory of his fans as there was hardly anyone who didn't wipe a tear on that emotional afternoon.

Tendulkar left a legacy but with his departure a new chapter unfolded in Indian cricket as the 'transition phase', which had been a buzz word since the retirement of Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly was completed.

The 'Gen-Next' under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's able stewardship took over quite successfully with Virat Kohli easily being the best of the lot in terms of talent transformed into performance.

Apart from the legends, the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh are also on their way out as they are battling to save their international careers.

Earlier this year, Shikhar Dhawan burst into Test cricket with an amazing 187 against Australia at Mohali which turned out to be the fastest hundred by a debutant.

Dhawan since then has made rapid strides in international cricket having played a pivotal role in India's Champions Trophy triumph in England where he was adjudged 'Player of the Series'. Along with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan has forged a very successful opening partnership which has done exceptionally well in the West Indies, England, India with only failure being the year-end away series against South Africa.

Dhoni again has proved that he is a good strategist as his decision to open with Rohit Sharma has proved to be a masterstroke. The talented Mumbai batsman had revelled in his new role which saw him smash a double hundred against the West Indies at Bangalore last month. Rohit also had an impressive debut as he scord back-to-back tons in his first two matches although he has struggled against pace and swing in South African conditions.

Cheteshwar Pujara seemed to have made the No 3 slot vacated by Rahul Draviod his own as he showed the world that he is good enough to make runs in foreign conditions with scores of 153 and 70 against South Africa at Johannesburg and Durban. 

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