South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis believes his century on the second day of the second Test against England at Durban on Monday is one of the best he has ever scored.
Kallis hit 162, his 18th Test ton, to help South Africa to 332, a lead of 193 over England's first innings of 139. At stumps the tourists were 30 without loss in their second innings.
The century took Kallis to 1,278 runs for the year, breaking the record of 1,198 set by Graeme Smith in 2003 for the most Test match runs by a South African in a calendar year.
"I still rate the one I got against Australia as my number one, but it was my first and that's always special," Kallis told a news conference, referring to the 101 he scored to save the Melbourne Test in 1997.
"But this one was right up there especially after we were 118 for six."
The all rounder also praised Shaun Pollock, who scored 43 in a seventh-wicket stand of 87 with Kallis that resurrected the innings.
"The pitch did a bit this morning, and we lost a few wickets," Kallis said. "But Shaun played magnificently and showed the value of his experience."
Kallis said South Africa were determined to perform well in Durban after they lost the first match in the five-Test series by seven wickets in Port Elizabeth.
"To go 2-0 down would have meant that the series was as good as over," he said. "That was not an option and we had to come back hard. We'd like to believe we can win it from here, but we will have to put the ball in the right areas tomorrow."
WORLD CLASS
England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard, who eventually dismissed Kallis when he was caught on the boundary by substitute fielder Paul Collingwood, paid tribute to the centurion.
"Jacques Kallis played tremendously well," he said. "He was a world class batter at the top of his game. If you go through an innings without playing a false stroke you must be in top form."
Hoggard said England had badly missed left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who did not take the field in the South African innings because of the back spasm he suffered while batting on Sunday.
"He would have bowled 25 to 30 overs from one end, so that took a lot out of the rest of us," he said.
"But he was standing up straight today, which is always a good sign when you have a back problem. Hopefully he will be able to bowl in the second innings."
Hoggard said England remained hopeful of saving the match, particularly after winning 11 of their 12 Tests in 2004 and drawing the other.
"It would be disappointing to lose our unbeaten record in the last game of the year but we'll be coming back hard at them tomorrow. History shows that partnerships here increase in the second innings."
