Kirsten hits 11th century

Opener Gary Kirsten hit his 11th Test century as South Africa reached 230 for three on the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

Kirsten played a chanceless innings in scoring 112 not out before he was struck on the arm when he ducked into a bouncer from Dilhara Fernando.

The umpires then offered the batsmen the chance to go off because of bad light with 10.4 overs remaining to be bowled.

Fast bowler Fernando was Sri Lankas most successful bowler, taking two for 52.

Kirsten, 33, set a South African record by scoring a century against a seventh Test opponent. The only countries he has not scored hundreds against are Zimbabwe, against whom he has only played once, and Test newcomers Bangladesh, who have not yet played against South Africa.

Kirsten also equalled the South African record for most Test centuries, equalling the mark set by teammate Daryll Cullinan.

On a slow-paced pitch, Kirsten was seldom troubled as he made his second successive Test century at Kingsmead. He equalled the South African record when he made a match-saving 275 against England last year.

Kirsten shared stands of 31 with Boeta Dippenaar, 55 with Jacques Kallis and 108 with Cullinan as South Africa took advantage of winning the toss.

But Fernando, 21, playing in his second Test, produced some fiery deliveries. He made the first breakthrough with his fifth delivery of the match when he had Dippenaar caught behind for 11.

Soon after lunch Fernando dismissed Kallis when the batsman misjudged a hook and spooned a catch to Muttiah Muralitharan at square leg.

Cullinan was in superb form. With his place in the team under threat after some poor performances he made a polished 59 before going down the pitch to offspinner Muralitharan and hitting the ball on the full to midwicket. Kirsten reached 50 off 112 balls and 100 off 238 balls when he went down the pitch to Muralitharan and drove him straight for his 14th four.

Kirsten said he had set a goal at the beginning of the year to "contribute a lot" to South Africa. He said: "I have been in pretty good form all year but havent been making the big scores for a while. It was an unusual Kingsmead pitch because it was slower than usual and there was no movement off the seam."

The pitch conditions justified the decision by South African captain Shaun Pollock to bat first.

Rain fell steadily during most of Monday and it was expected there would be some early life when the match started under overcast skies but with the exception of Fernando, the bowlers were seldom threatening. Muralitharan bowled steadily to take one for 58 off 29 overs.

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