Brett Lee bowled the fastest delivery ever recorded by speed gun, clocking 157.4 kilometres per hour (kph) with a ball to South Africa's Jacques Kallis on the first morning of the Second Test in Cape Town.

The first ball of the 17th over just beat Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar's 157.2 kph, which was registered in a one-day international against Australia at Cardiff in June 2001.

Lee's previous fastest recorded delivery was measured at 156 kph against South Africa in a one-day international in Johannesburg in the 1999-2000 season.

A ball from Jeff Thomson was timed at 160.5 kph back in the 1970s, but the timing technology used was different.

Lee, 25, is playing in his 20th Test for Australia. Earlier in the opening session, the New South Wales speedster claimed his 78th Test wicket when Gary Kirsten edged to Mark Waugh.

© 2002 CricInfo Ltd