Durban: South Africa's Jacques Kallis got a fairytail hundred against India in his farewell Test and the retiring all-rounder said it was a "special feeling" to reach the three-figure mark in his final appearance in the five-day game for the Proteas.
"It is a special feeling," Kallis said.
Kallis goes past Dravid, becomes 3rd highest Test run-getter
"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," the 38-year-old added.
The legendary cricketer, playing his 165th Test, notched up the 45th century of his career on day four of the second cricket Test against India here yesterday.
Kallis scored 115 runs off 316 balls with the help of 13 boundaries to South Africa his to a commanding position in the ongoing match.
"It's a different kind of pressure, being in the nineties for the last time was different to normally being in the nineties. At least I could fall back on my experience and managed to get the three figures," he said.
In the process, Kallis (13,289) also became the third highest run-getter in Test cricket surpassing Rahul Dravid's 13288 runs.
Kallis also spoke of the difficulty and application needed during his innings, which was well-paced under testing circumstances.
"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," he said.
"We basically tried to pace the innings and keep the scoreboard ticking. It was quite difficult to score because the wicket was quite slow, they (India) 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," he signed off, hoping for victory in his farewell Test.
A cricket fan waves the national team's flag during the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - AP
South Africa's batsman Alviro Petersen blocks a the ball during second day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - AP India's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, center, appeals unsuccessfuly for LBW against South Africa's batsman Alviro Petersen, left, during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, center, celebrates with teammates after dismissed South Africa's captain Graeme Smith, for 47 runs during the second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - AP Jacques Kallis, right, walks to the field as India's players form a guard of honor on second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis walks into the field to bat on second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - AP Jacques Kallis, right, walks to the field as India's players form a guard of honor on second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, shakes hand with South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, center, as he walks to the field during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APJacques Kallis, right, walks to the field as India's players form a guard of honor on second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, right, plays a shot as India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, watches, on the third day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Abraham Benjamin de Villiers dives home safely after a run out attempt on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Abraham Benjamin de Villiers dives home safely after a run out attempt on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, right, attempts a catch as South Africa's batsman Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, left, and umpire Rod Tucker of Australia, center, watches on the third day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's fielder Shikhar Dhawan, right, attempts a catch off South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, on the third day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis raises his bat after reaching a half century on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's fielder Shikhar Dhawan attempts a catch on the third day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's fielder Shikhar Dhawan misfields a ball on the third day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - AP India's bowler Ravindra Jadeja, front, celebrates taking the wicket as South Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, watches on the third day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APSouth Africa's batsman Jacques Kallis, left, raises his bat whilst leaving the field with India's players after play had been cut short due to bad light on the third day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, left, leaves the field as teammate Murali Vijay, right, reaches to him after he was dismissed for 70 runs during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - AP India's batsman Murali Vijay, right, avoids a bouncer as South Africa's fielder Jacques Kallis, left, watches during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - AP India's batsman Murali Vijay avoids a bouncer during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Murali Vijay leaves the field after dismissed by South Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, for 97 runs during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Rohit Sharma, front, is bowled as South Africa's captain Graeme Smith, back, watches during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, left, celebrates after India's batsman Rohit Sharma, right, is out for a duck as captain Graeme Smith, centre, reacts during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - AP South Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, second from left, celebrates after dismissing India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, second from right, for 70 runs during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APSouth Africa's Alviro Petersen, top left, dives as he attempts a catch off India's batsman Ajinkya Rahane, bottom right, during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - AP India's batsman Virat Kohli, front, plays a shot as South Africa's captain Graeme Smith, back, watches during second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed by South Africa's bowler Morne Morkel for 46 runs during the second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APIndia's batsman Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot during second day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, right, celebrates after dismissing India's batsman Ishant Sharma, left, for 4 runs during the second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Dale Steyn celebrates after dismissing India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for 24 runs during the second day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APA cricket fan watches the second day of the cricket test match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. - APSouth Africa's Jacques Kallis waves to the crowd in his last match before retirement during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Shikhar Dhawan bats during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay bats during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Vernon Philander bowls during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay ducks a bouncer from South Africa's Dale Steyn during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays a shot during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa.South Africa's bowler Morne Morkel throws the ball during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Dale Steyn (R) reacts during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Morne Morkel celebrates the wicket of India's Shikhar Dhawan during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Shikhar Dhawan loses his wicket to South Africa's Morne Morkel during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban.India's batsman Shikhar Dhawan leaves the field after being dismissed for 29 runs during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP South Africa's Jacques Kallis bowls in his last match during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Cheteshwar Pujara is hit on the leg during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's Robin Petersen bowls during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's fans show their support for Jacques Kallis during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.India's Murali Vijay celebrates his fifty runs during the first day of the second Sunfoil Series Cricket Test match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium, at Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's bowler Morne Morkel, center, unsuccessfuly appeals for LBW against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, right, as teammate wicketkeeper Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, left, watches during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa.South Africa's fans during Day 1 of the second Cricket Test Match between India and South Africa at the SAHARA Stadium , Kingsmead in Durban.South Africa's wicketkeeper Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, right, attempts a run out against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, left, during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth African cricket fans sing during first day of their cricket test match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth Africa's bowler Vernon Philander, left, fields off own bowling after India's Shikhar Dhawan, right, plays played a shot during first day of their cricket test match at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. AP South Africa's player Jacques Kallis looks on during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APSouth Africa's player Jacques Kallis bowls during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - APIndia's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, centre, with teammate India's Virat Kohli, left, waves in the players pavilion as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, with teammate India's Virat Kohli, left, gestures in the players pavilion as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP Match is stopped due to bad light during the first day of the cricket test match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP South Africa's player Jacques Kallis looks on as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against India at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. - AP
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