Cricket: Rhodes denies Sri Lanka

JONTY RHODES scored his maiden Test century as South Africa salvaged a draw in the inaugural Test against Sri Lanka in Moratuwa yesterday.

South Africa, set 365 to win, appeared to be heading for defeat at 138 for 6, but Rhodes batted superbly to steer them to safety. He hit a six and 14 fours in his unbeaten 101, which was made off 202 balls and occupied more than four hours.

Rhodes, 24, the Natal captain, had good support from the tail. Pat Symcox helped him add 61 for the seventh wicket and Clive Eksteen shared in an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 52. Eksteen made four in an hour and a half.

The first 30 minutes of play were lost to rain but the skies brightened as the day wore on and a crowd of 9,000 watched Rhodes frustrate the home team. The pitch gave surprisingly little assistance to the Sri Lankan spinners, despite forecasts at the start of the match that it would break up.