Friday, February 27, 2009

S Africa hit back after North ton


South Africa stabilised after a disastrous start to finish day two of the first Test on 85-3 in their reply to Australia's formidable 466.
Australia's Marcus North collected a debut Test century with 117, while Brad Haddin (63) and Mitchell Johnson (96no) also helped pushed the total on.
Graeme Smith (0) and Hashim Amla (1) were back in the pavilion as South Africa slumped to 2-2 in reply.
Jacques Kallis (27) and Neil McKenzie (35 not out) helped the hosts recover.
Australia started the day on 254-5 and never looked like exposing the weaknesses that saw them hanging on at 38-3 on the first day.
As the South Africans clung to the hope that a breakthrough would accompany the new ball, North and Haddin picked up their half-centuries in comfort.
Haddin survived four overs after its introduction before falling to Makhaya Ntini, but North shrugged off his and Andrew McDonald's (0) demise to make steady progress to three figures.
At the other end, Mitchell Johnson set about the bowling with aggression and the pair quickly racked up a century partnership, before North was lured down the track attempting to heave across the line to Paul Harris.
Johnson continued to punish Harris, crashing three sixes off one over from the left-armer, as he cantered past 61 to rack up his best-ever Test batting figures.
But the paceman found himself stranded four runs short of his first century as Morne Morkel claimed the final two Australian wickets in successive deliveries.
Dale Steyn's exploits on the first day ensured that he finished as the pick of a dispirited set of bowlers with four wickets at a cost of 113 runs.
Johnson soon found consolation as his fifth delivery drew a thick edge from Smith and a tumbling catch from Haddin.
In the following over debutant Ben Hilfenhaus tempted Amla with a full, swinging ball that was snapped up by Ricky Ponting at second slip to leave South Africa in deep trouble just eight balls into their innings.
Kallis came to the crease and, supported by McKenzie, steadied the ship in becoming only the eighth Test batsman in history to reach 10,000 runs with a push through covers.
But Mike Hussey hung onto a sharp catch at gully off the bowling of Peter Siddle to remove Kallis, silence the Wanderers and ensure the home side remain in a precarious position.

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