Grim fightback by Gibbs and Kallis

South Africa battled their way to 183 for 2 at Centurion Park yesterday, trailing Sri Lanka by 140 runs on the first innings by the close on the second day of the second of the two Tests between the countries.

South Africa, who are 1-0 up in the series, were helped by determined batting by Herschelle Gibbs, who scored an uncharacteristically grim undefeated 76, and Jacques Kallis, who looked serene on his way to his fifth successive Test half-century.

South Africa batted without too much difficulty throughout the final session of the day, not losing any wickets in the face of some defensive bowling by the Sri Lankans.

Before tea, the fast bowler Dilhara Fernando grabbed both wickets for Sri Lanka, having Graeme Smith adjudged leg before for 15, and Gary Kirsten caught off a steeply bouncing delivery for 11. But Gibbs and Kallis held on against some superb bowling by Mutthiah Muralitharan, and some containing work by Hasantha Fernando, who kept the ball wide outside the off stump.

Earlier, Hashan Tillakaratne, who had been 82 not out overnight, became the first Sri Lankan to score a Test century in South Africa, finishing on 104 not out in a total of 323.

In the process of achieving his century, Tillakaratne became the fourth Sri Lankan batsman to reach 4,000 runs in Test cricket with a sweetly struck boundary backward of square on the off side from the bowling of Makhaya Ntini. It was his 10th Test century, and his runs have been achieved at an average of 44.5.