Australia’s young bowling attack bowled superbly in tandem. Despite some dropped catches, South Africa were bowled out for 220. Simon Katich got out just after tea but Australia are at 1/51, 297 ahead with two days left.
Performance of the Day: AB de Villiers 104*.
Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus kept the pressure on all day long, keeping the scoring rate below three and delivering maiden after maiden. Siddle made the first breakthrough, getting McKenzie out LBW. McKenzie challenged the decision, foolishly, as he was dead in front to leave South Africa 4/93.
Some excitement happened a few overs later with only 2 added to the total, Siddle sent one down the leg side which glanced JP Duminy and the Australians appealed. Steve Bucknor turned it down, but when the Australians wanted to challenge the decision, they were denied because the Supersport commentary team morons’ production team didn’t have their cameras working properly, so no replays were available. Simply embarrassing! This would never happen with Channel 9. Kerry Packer is spinning in his grave.
At 4/116, Ricky Ponting dropped a regulation chance from Duminy at second slip off Johnson when he was on 13. It wound up not costing much as Duminy fell after adding 4 more to his total, gloving one off Johnson down the leg side. Johnson struck again two balls later having Mark Boucher caught behind and despite challenging the decision, the review was upheld and South Africa were 6/138.
After two more wickets fell, Dale Steyn came to the crease and built the largest partnership of the innings with de Villiers for 52 runs. It could have been nipped in the bud however as Brad Haddin made a mess of a chance from de Villiers. At 8/163 and Siddle bowling to de Villiers on 63, he edged straight to Marcus North at first slip, but Haddin flashed in front and flubbed it. Andrew McDonald, who wound up bowling only 10 out of 81.1 overs in the innings, finally dismissed Steyn. McDonald looks a candidate for the Cameron White syndrome witnessed on the tour of India last year. Hopefully Bryce McGain will be healthy for the second test.
Makhaya Ntini was then cleaned up with the new ball by Johnson, but Ricky Ponting elected not to enforce the follow on. Traditionally he hasn’t, but he basically had no choice here. Despite bowling South Africa out for 220 and with a healthy lead of 246 and weather being a factor for the remaining two days, Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus were desperate for a rest after bowling 18.1, 21 and 25 overs respectively. Hilfenhaus bowled extremely well without getting full rewards for his efforts, finishing with 1/58 including 9 maidens. Johnson was the pick of the lot with 4/25, while Siddle finished with 3/76. Running in like a bull and letting fate take care of the rest was particularly effective for him in bowling to Steyn when he delivered a bouncer barrage from around the wicket.
Australia batted well enough before tea. In the final over before tea, Phillip Hughes was in all sorts of trouble to Morne Morkel. In the first ball of the over, he gloved one down the leg side, but after failing in three previous challenges so far in the test, Graeme Smith was gun shy about asking for a referral and Hughes was allowed to go on.
Hughes has been Jekyll and Hyde. At times he has struggled mightily against short pitched bowling. At other times he uses an immense reach to club anything outside off stump to the boundary. It will be interesting to see how he bats tomorrow with Ponting. If Australia score quickly tomorrow, a declaration with a lead of 500 just before tea is about right.
