Potchefstroom: Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis hit centuries on the second day of the second and final Test at the North West Stadium on Saturday as South Africa set itself up for a likely second successive innings victory over Bangladesh.

Gibbs (114), Kirsten (154 not out) and Kallis (107 not out) took South Africa to 414 for two at close of play in reply to Bangladesh's first innings total of 215.

Bangladesh's sole success on a hot day was the run-out of Gibbs, who failed to ground his bat after attempting a single to mid-off. Gibbs and Kirsten put on 141 for the second wicket before Kirsten and Kallis added an unbeaten 212 for the third wicket.

Kirsten indicated that South Africa might declare fairly early Sunday. "We got a message from Polly (South African captain Shaun Pollock) in the last 15 overs today telling us to get a move on."

Kirsten said that despite South Africa's run feast, batting would be difficult for Bangladesh in the second innings. "Quite a few balls are keeping low and our bowlers will fancy their chances," he said.

The in-form Gibbs made batting look easy with a series of sweetly timed strokes. He reached his seventh Test century off 161 balls when he swept the last ball before lunch from leg spinner Alok Kapali for four. Kirsten had gone to his 50 when he pushed the previous ball for a single.

Gibbs continued untroubled after lunch before he was run out while attempting a quick single to mid-off. The fielders showed no excitement when Tapash Baisya's throw hit the stumps but television replays showed Gibbs had not grounded his bat. Gibbs hit 17 fours and two sixes in his 190-ball innings.

"I was in. I just forgot to ground my bat. It's something Polly has warned me about. I paid a heavy price today," said Gibbs. Kirsten, who made 150 in the first Test in East London to become the first man to score centuries against all other Test countries, played a typical innings, taking no chances but moving relentlessly to his 16th Test century off 161 balls.

He batted from the start of play and made his 154 off 219 balls with 17 fours and a rare six, only his seventh in 85 Tests, when he lofted off spinner Sanwar Hossain over long-on.

Kirsten said he and Kallis had discussed the need to treat the Bangladesh bowlers with respect. "When you are playing against weak bowling you still have to treat them like any other bowlers," he said. "You have to stay focused and stick to your game plan."

When Kallis was on 36 he appeared to be caught behind off Sanwar Hossain but Zimbabwean umpire Russell Tiffin gave him not out. "Maybe I was a bit lucky," he admitted afterwards.

He was relatively slow in taking 100 balls to get to 50 but then hit powerfully to score his next 50 off 68 balls. It was his 10th Test century. Although they seemed to be heading for another heavy defeat, Bangladesh's bowlers performed steadily.

The pitch, which Pollock criticised as "too flat" after the first day, gave the bowlers no assistance apart from occasional low bounce and the batsmen seldom gave them even a glimmer of hope.

South Africa won the first Test by an innings and 107 runs. Bangladesh has lost 13 of its 14 Test matches.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
South Africa makes 61/1, Pollock criticises the pitch