The tourists survived the early loss of Herschelle Gibbs and then recovered after Gary Kirsten retired hurt to resist the best Kent could muster.

The Proteas were on four when Gibbs was caught low at second slip off Alamgir Sheriyar but were going well when Kirsten retired hurt with a bruised right elbow from a ball from Martin Saggers, having hit 40 of his side's 44 for one.

But after the visitors had lost Boeta Dippenaar (1) on the total of 67, to a diving right-handed catch by Robert Key at third slip, Jacques Kallis - who broke off from the tour to return home to South Africa when his father died - gradually took control.

Sheriyar eventually claimed his second wicket half an hour after lunch when he had Kallis caught behind for 77.

He had put on 79 for the third wicket with Neil McKenzie, who then featured in a superb fourth wicket stand of 179 with Jacque Rudolph.

McKenzie, who remained unbeaten with 105, reached his century from 152 balls with 13 boundaries and three sixes.

It was an unblemished innings apart from a stumping chance on 97 off Alex Loudon when the ball rose sharply from not much short of a length and went through the wicket keeper's gloves.

Rudolph, who hit eighteen boundaries, was eight short of his hundred - from a 105 balls - when he was caught by Saggers off Loudon, giving him his first first-class wicket for Kent and prompting South Africa's declaration.

With 17 overs remaining Kent made a poor start, slumping to 24-2 with Michael Carberry (5) edging Charl Willoughby to fourth slip and Ed Smith (7) caught behind off Monde Zondeki.

At stumps, they had recovered to 47 for two with Robert Key 14 not out Matthew Banes on 10.

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