Bulawayo - Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie shared an unbroken stand of 138 to ensure South Africa comfortably avoided the follow-on against Zimbabwe in the second and final Test on Monday.

South Africa reached the close on the fourth day at 300 for two in reply to Zimbabwe's 419 for nine declared, with Kallis unbeaten on 81 and McKenzie 74 not out.

The rain-hit match is headed for a draw, which would give South Africa the short series after they won the first Test by nine wickets.

Kallis has made his runs from 259 balls, with six fours and a six, while McKenzie has faced 176 balls and struck eight fours and a six.

They methodically ground out their third-wicket stand that took South Africa past the follow on target of 220 in the third over after tea.

Kallis batted in fits and starts, going from 50 to 60 in 12 deliveries, but requiring 58 balls to move from 60 to 74.

McKenzie was the more fluent of the two, but also failed to make the most of his opportunities to attack the largely unthreatening Zimbabwe bowling.

Zimbabwe were given one chance to break the partnership when Kallis, on 74 out of 279 for two, edged a turning delivery from left-arm spinner Ray Price. However, a diving Alistair Campbell at slip failed to get hands to the knee high catch.

South Africa, who resumed on the overnight 26 for no wicket, suffered their only loss of the morning session eight overs before lunch, taken at 136 for one, when Herschelle Gibbs walked after edging a delivery from Price to wicketkeeper Andy Flower.

Gibbs scored an aggressive 74 off 127 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes, and his dismissal ended an opening stand of 117 with Gary Kirsten.

Kirsten and Kallis put on 45 for the second wicket before Kirsten advanced down the pitch to leg-spinner Paul Strang and was stumped by Flower for 65. He faced 177 balls and hit six fours.

Strang came on in the 20th over in the day, and beat Gibbs's outside edge with his first delivery. Gibbs, on 53, came down the pitch to his second ball and drove it on the full straight back to Strang, who dropped the catch and had to leave the field for treatment to a bruised little finger on his right hand.

He returned 33 minutes later and resumed bowling, but was off the field for the first 42 minutes after lunch while he had his hand X-rayed.

No bones were broken, and Strang began his third spell in the 15th over after lunch. However, the injury seemed to hamper his effectiveness on what has been a slow, turning pitch throughout the match.

Price, who shared the new ball with fast bowler Heath Streak when it was taken in the 82nd over, finished the day with two for 105 from 47 overs. - Reuters