JACQUES Kallis yesterday stood between England and another significant step towards a Test series victory in South Africa.

Kallis (108 not out) shared 50 stands with AB de Villiers (36), Mark Boucher (51) and Dale Steyn (26 not out) to stall England’s ambition as two top-six batsmen made ducks on day one of the third Test at Newlands.

South Africa closed on 279 for six after stumbling to 127 for five.

Kallis was already a century- maker this winter, in the drawn first Test, and gave England another taste of the medicine with an immovable and chanceless 173-ball reprise.

The nearest they came to shifting him was a rare false shot on 64, when his mis-pull off Graham Onions steepled safely 40 yards behind the batting crease for two fortunate runs.

Kallis and Boucher’s resolve was much needed in mid-afternoon after Graeme Swann extended his astonishing series with two wickets in two balls to take his tally to 16.

Boucher responded with a typical counter-attack, which gathered early momentum with three successive off-side fours in one Swann over.

Kallis, meanwhile, was unhurried as he shut England out on his way to the 33rd Test century of his heavyweight career – and his third in succession against these opponents on this ground.

England had still been awaiting vindication of Andrew Strauss’ decision to bowl first when Swann suddenly intervened during an extended second session.

De Villiers and Kallis put on 76, only for the former to give himself away with a tame chip straight to short midwicket.

Then JP Duminy fell for his second successive first-ball duck, edging behind when Swann landed one on a perfect length from round the wicket and found some telling turn.

England were perhaps sensing a short cut to further success.

But with their contrasting tempos, Kallis and Boucher soon proved otherwise.

Their sixth-wicket partnership was threatening three figures when Stuart Broad finally got one to snake past Boucher’s front-foot push and hit the back pad to win an lbw verdict which was not overturned on DRS.

Kallis found a new ally in Steyn, though, either side of the second new ball, which was taken under floodlights and almost spelled the end for the number eight. He survived a tough chance at third slip, where Jonathan Trott could not hold on off the bowling of James Anderson.

The tourists had started with a bang when Ashwell Prince was caught behind off Anderson from the fourth ball of a match which began half an hour late after rain.

South Africa would have been two down for one run after seven balls, had Swann held a regulation second-slip catch when Graeme Smith chased and edged Onions’ first delivery.

Smith’s opening partner Prince was already gone for a duck.

He gloved behind a brute of a ball which shaped to swing into the left-hander and then kicked and held its line.

When Swann gave Smith his let-off, all the chatter – until the home captain fell to Anderson after lunch – was whether a turning point in the series had just taken place.

Swann was posted at second rather than third slip, because usual incumbent Paul Collingwood was tucked away at long leg to ensure the finger he dislocated in Durban was out of the firing line.

England lead 1-0 with two to play but, at a venue where South Africa have a formidable record, knew they would need to do everything right to consolidate their advantage.

The first of their two DRS appeals was lost when first change Broad thought he had number three Hashim Amla caught behind, only for Daryl Harper’s decision to stand.

Onions did get Amla lbw shortly before lunch, though, when he played across fulllength swing and missed.

Smith then fell to his and Anderson’s first ball of the afternoon, well caught behind by a diving Matt Prior as he pushed forward.

Anderson was England’s most likely wicket-taker throughout, regularly finding some swing and extra bounce.

It was testament to Kallis’ skill and determination that England, and their most potent pace bowler in particular, did not inflict more damage on evidently vulnerable hosts.

Scoreboard

South Africa v England At Cape Town

England Won Toss

South Africa First Innings Close

G C Smith c Prior b Anderson ...............30

A G Prince c Prior b Anderson .............. 0

H M Amla lbw b Onions .........................14

J H Kallis not out ...................108

A B de Villiers c Strauss b Swann .........36

J P Duminy c Prior b Swann .................. 0

M V Boucher lbw b Broad .....................51

D W Steyn not out ...............26

Extras (b1 lb11 w1 nb1 pens 0) ..14

Total 6 wkts (83.2 overs)........279

Fall: 1-1 2-46 3-51 4-127 5-127 6-216

To Bat: M Morkel, P L Harris, F de Wet.

Bowling: Anderson 20-1-62-2. Onions 18.2- 3-60-1. Broad 19-6-54-1. Swann 22-1-74-2.

Pietersen 4-0-17-0.

Fall: 1-1 2-46 3-51 4-127 5-127 6-216

To Bat: M Morkel, P L Harris, F de Wet.

Bowling: Anderson 20-1-62-2. Onions 18.2- 3-60-1. Broad 19-6-54-1. Swann 22-1-74-2.

Pietersen 4-0-17-0.