South Africa close in on Test win
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) -- Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis both hit centuries to give South Africa complete control of the third Test against West Indies.
Gibbs scored 142 and Kallis 130 not out as South Africa closed the penultimate day on 335 for three in their second innings, a lead of 440.
They look sure to declare overnight and attempt to dismiss West Indies in the 105 overs available to them on Tuesday.
It was the 12th Test century by Gibbs and the 14th for Kallis, the pair sharing a partnership of 251 for the third wicket before Gibbs holed out in the deep.
Although West Indies made a good start to the day, claiming the wickets of captain Graeme Smith (24) and Jacques Rudolph (nought) within the first three overs, Gibbs and Kallis steadied the innings before rain forced the players from the field an hour after lunch.
The pair returned to complete their centuries in the late afternoon, South Africa seeking quick runs in the 26 overs remaining to them in the day.
Their partnership, a record for any wicket by South Africa against West Indies, ended when Gibbs played one exuberant shot too many.
Kallis, who at times has looked immovable in this series, moved to his hundred shortly before the close when he tickled Chris Gayle to the third man boundary.
In the process he became only the second South African to score a century in three successive Tests. The only other South African to achieve the feat was Alan Melville, who did so over a 10-year period between 1938 and 1947, the hiatus the result of World War II.
In a stay of nearly four and a half hours, Kallis faced 191 balls and struck seven fours and five sixes as he made merry in the closing overs. His aggregate for the series is now 582.
By the time of his dismissal, Gibbs was toying with the bowlers, improvising shots to all parts of the ground after what by his standards had been a measured start.
He was at the crease for just over five hours, facing 223 balls and hitting 15 fours and four sixes.
Amid the rain, much of Monday's action was watched by only a sprinkling of die-hard fans. The home side are already 2-0 up in the four-match series.
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