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Kallis is hailed prince of Wales

Glamorgan (294-4) bt Surrey (223) by 71 runs

It was worth waiting for. Jacques Kallis finally made his Glamorgan debut, and proceeded to play one of the finest one-day innings imaginable.

For the patient Glamorgan supporters, who have had so little to cheer this season, his unbeaten 155 was manna from heaven, and the 23-year-old South African can forthwith consider himself to be an honorary Welshman.

Kallis, who has signed a two-year contract, was expected to join up with his new colleagues after his country's participation in the World Cup had been ended by Australia in that never-to-be-forgotten semi-final. Although he played in that match, a torn stomach muscle, which he had picked up in the Super Sixes, necessitated a return home for treatment, and there was a temporary worry that he would not play again this season.

The worry is well and truly over. He came to the wicket yesterday after Steve James had fallen to the seventh ball of the innings, and played just about his only false shot to the first ball he received when he edged Joey Benjamin between wicketkeeper and first slip trying to withdraw his bat.

Thereafter he batted like a prince, albeit on a good batting surface, and announced himself with an imperious cover drive off Ian Bishop in the seventh over. It was a shot that was to serve him well on a lightening outfield as he progressed to his fifty from 60 balls and a tumultuously received century from a further 52.

It was an innings full of authentic strokes all around the wicket, and he advanced from 100 to 155 in just 29 deliveries. In all, Kallis hit two sixes and 17 fours, and joined Matthew Maynard in a match-winning third-wicket partnership of 204 made in just 29 overs. A target of 295 turned out to be much too daunting for Surrey, who fell 71 runs short.

Yesterday's victory could prove to be seminal for Glamorgan, who face Gloucestershire in a NatWest Trophy quarter-final on Wednesday, a match in which Kallis afterwards confirmed that he expects to bowl. ``Not bad, is he?'' said Maynard of his new overseas star. No one disagreed.