AGILE AS EVER: Adam Gilchrist comes up with an acrobatic effort in the third and final Test against South Africa. — Photo: AP

SYDNEY: Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince completed half-centuries in an unbroken 144-run partnership to lead a brave South African fightback on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test against Australia on Monday.

Kallis scored an unbeaten 80, while Prince made 62 not out to help South Africa recover from a shaky start and reach stumps on 230 for three at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The pair defied the Australian bowlers for more than three hours to vindicate Graeme Smith's decision to bat first on a lively pitch that initially suited the seamers, but flattened out later in the day.

The entire morning session was washed out because of rain and Smith's decision to pad up first on a grassy wicket looked to have backfired when the tourist lost three wickets between lunch and tea.

Early breakthrough

Australia's express paceman Brett Lee made an early breakthrough when he dismissed A.B. de Villiers for two in the sixth over of the day. Glenn McGrath removed Herschelle Gibbs then for 27.

Lee added the scalp of Smith for 39 to reduce South Africa to 86 for three before Kallis and Prince launched their recovery mission, batting through the extended final session without any further losses.

De Villiers had a lucky escape in the third over when he was dropped at second slip by Ricky Ponting, playing his 100th Test, but failed to make the most of his let-off when he edged Lee behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Gibbs, who made 94 in Melbourne last week, batted for over an hour and struck five boundaries before he dragged a ball from McGrath back onto his stumps with the total on 69.

Smith, who had made scores of 34, 30, 22 and 25, held firm for more than two hours before he wasted another promising start when Lee struck him plumb in front.

Kallis batted 226 minutes, faced 181 balls and struck 13 boundaries in his flawless display, while Prince hit seven fours off 128 balls and 191 minutes at the crease. — Reuters

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