Herschelle Gibbs smashed a brilliant century as South Africa piled up a mammoth 316 for five against Kenya in a Group C league match of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament here today. Gibbs scored 116 off 126 balls with 13 fours and three sixes and put on 159 runs for the opening wicket with Graeme Smith to set the stage for the first 300-plus total of the tournament. Smith made 69 with five fours and a six.

Jacques Kallis (60) and Boeta Dippenaar (31) also joined in the run-plunder as the Kenyans erred both in bowling and fielding. South Africa, who had defeated West Indies in their previous league match, won the toss and opted to bat first. Smith and Gibbs made a controlled beginning, reserving their flamboyance for the latter part of their innings.

They scored at a brisk pace nonetheless, and brought up the 100-run partnership in the 21st over. Gibbs was the first to reach his half-century, scoring his 50 off 70 balls with seven boundaries. Smith quickly followed him to the milestone, taking 62 balls for his 50, which included four hits to the fence. Their 159-run partnership was a new record for a South African opening pair against Kenya. The previous best stood in the name of Gibbs and Dippenaar who had put on 115 at Kimberley.

The two batsmen opened the floodgates after the 20-over mark and scored fluently on both sides of the wicket. Gibbs was the more attacking of the two and he punished the Kenyan bowlers severely. After completing his century with a lucky boundary to the fine leg, he launched an assault on Jimmy Kamande who replaced Joseph Angara as the only change in the Kenyan side that played against West Indies earlier.

Gibbs hit two sixes and a four off Kamande before the bowler got his revenge. While trying to run the ball to third man off the fifth ball of the over, Gibbs edged Kamande to wicketkeeper David Obuya. Smith was already out, stumped by David Obuya off Maurice Odumbe. David Obuya had a busy time behind the stumps, and carried out two more stumpings.

Dippenaar and Kallis added 73 for the third wicket before captain Steve Tikolo earned his only wicket. Dippenaar was stumped by David Obuya in the 47th over after making 31 with three fours and a six. Kallis also met the same fate in the next over, off Collins Obuya. Kallis hit five boundaries and a six in his 69-ball knock.

Lance Klusener remained unbeaten on 18 off just 14 balls, which included a four and a six.

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