Jacques Kallis stands tall with a ton in final Test

Jacques Kallis' potentially match-winning 115 runs, in his final Test match, steered South Africa to a strong position in the second Test against India in Durban on Sunday.

The Kingsmead crowd and Kallis' team-mates gave him a standing ovation when he reached the landmark from 273 deliveries.

Kallis' 45th Test ton, took his career aggregate to 13,289 runs, the third-highest in Tests. He also became the fourth South Africa batsman to score a century in his final Test.

Kallis' innings helped South Africa mount a 166-run lead in the first innings and pegged the tourists on the back foot.

The allrounder showed rare signs of emotions when he carved a single off Ravindra Jadeja, which took him to his century. It was one of Kallis' slower centuries and took him over 334 minutes to reach. But it handed his side the advantage on a slow, turning pitch.

His eventual dismissal brought forth poignant scenes. The crowd once again saluted him with a standing ovation, the South African team greeted him with hugs outside the pavilion, and the captain Graeme Smith kissed him on his head.

"In the situation that we were in, it was important to consolidate a bit and make sure we got back on track after losing a few wickets," Kallis said. "We basically tried to pace the innings and keep the scoreboard ticking. It was quite difficult to score because the wicket is quite slow. They put up defensive fields and bowled quite defensively. As we got closer to their total we could afford to be more positive. I thought the guys really paced the innings well."

"It is a special feeling. It's strange walking out to bat knowing that there is no tomorrow and it will be your last opportunity to get a hundred for your country. It's a different kind of pressure, being in the nineties for the last time, so it was different to normally being in the nineties."