Thu, 17 Nov 2011 - South Africa vs Australia, Australia Tour of South Africa 2011-12, 2nd Test Match

Final Score: Australia*: 296 - 310 / 8 in 86.5 overs RR: 3.57, South Africa: 266 - 339 in 110.0 overs RR: 3.08

Australia prevail in thrilling climax

Test cricket was at its exciting best as Australia overhauled the daunting 310 run target in fading light on the last day at Wanderers with just two wickets remaining to level the two match series. It was a fitting climax to the shortened series with almost everything happening on the field. South Africa bowled their heart out but Australia were just too resilient in the end. Without contributions from Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, who put on a match wining 72 run partnership, the visitors wouldn’t have made it past the finish line.

After the first session was consumed by rain, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting walked into bat with only one thing on mind- 168 more and the honours would be shared. However, Vernon Philander clean bowled Clarke in the fourth over to create early problems for Australia. Ponting battled for 33 deliveries before chasing a wide delivery from Morne Morkel and edge pouched safely in the slips as the fighting 62 run knock came to an end.

Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin added 50 invaluable runs in trying circumstances to put the faltering chase back on course. Philander returned to trap Hussey leg before for 39 as Australia went into Tea at 222 for 6, still 88 required for an improbable win. With the second new ball just nine overs away after the break, Australia came out with an attacking mindset. Haddin who struggled for form in the series suddenly started middling the pitched up deliveries picking up a flurry of boundaries. In company of Mitchell Johnson, he added 72 in 13.3 overs to turn the tables on South Africa.

But, the hosts asked for the brand new straightaway and the pacers made it talk on the juicy pitch. Philander, though was the one to provide the break through by removing Haddin for 55. In the next over, Steyn got better off Peter Siddle and South Africa celebrated.With eighteen still required, Johnson was Australia’s best bet but 18-year-old Pat Cummins hit thirteen of them including the winning runs to secure the series-leveling victory.

Summary: Day One

It was an entertaining first day at Wanderers as South Africa at one point dictated terms but Australia fought back with a remarkable bowling performance to restrict the Proteas to 266 all-out before bad light brought an early end to proceedings. The hosts lost their last six wickets for 25 runs as Australian bowlers kept pegging away at the wickets.

On a pitch that looked good for batting, Graeme Smith walked into bat along with Jacques Rudolph having made the right call at toss. However, the openers were dismissed early with just 43 on the board. Jacques Kallis’ aggressive half century settled the nerves to some extent but he and Hashim Amla fell in quick succession to leave the hosts in need of a recovery.

At 129 for 4, South Africa were looking a bit vulnerable but AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince were solid in a 112 run partnership. While Australia continued to look for wickets with attacking fields, the batsmen made merry unleashing some eye catching strokes. Thanks to the duo, South Africa recovered to 213 for 4 at Tea with de Villiers reaching his 50 before the interval.

Prince’s dismissal triggered a mini-Newlands as South Africa just lost the plot after the century partnership was broken. Rookie Cummins having impressed everybody with his bowling pulled off an amazing catch to send back de Villiers for 64, Vernon Philander and Mark Boucher played nothing shots as four wickets fell in eighteen deliveries.

In fading light, Michael Clarke brought himself on to polish off the tail and South Africa were all-out for 266, they had looked set for a 400 plus total when the fifth wicket stand was in progress. While the Australian openers were ready to walk in, the light had deteriorated to the level that any more play was impossible.In a spirited bowling performance, Siddle walked away with three scalps while as other in the attack also contributed to the team cause.

Day Two

Australia surrendered a dominant position after Lunch on the second day to stumble from 174 for no loss to 296 all-out as Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir remarkably lifted their game to restrict the visitors’ lead to just 30. The Australian openers pummeled their way in the first session with enterprising stroke play but the spectacular combustion meant that the game hung in balance when bad light once again intervened with South Africa yet to get off the mark after four deliveries.

Having limited the hosts to 266 on day one, Australia trailing in the series needed a solid opening stand upfront. Philip Hughes and Shane Watson did not disappoint as they played their strokes without any fear. Despite some balls going past the bat, runs came lavishly for Australia and the aggressive opening stand threatened to take the match away from South Africa.

Having conceded 169 in the first session without any success, the Lunch interval provided the hosts a much needed opportunity to regroup. Immediately after the break, the bowling showed lots of improvement after a disappointing show in the morning.Both Hughes’ and Watson fell twelve short of three figures as Australia simply withered away after them. Ricky Ponting’s lean run continued as the ex-captain perished without troubling the scorers. When the current skipper was defeated by a rising Morne Morkel delivery, Australia were fast losing the advantage of the big opening partnership.

A fired up Steyn removed both Khawaja and Michael Hussey with deliveries that curled in after pitching in line. Brad Haddin tried to play sensibly but became Tahir’s first victim in Tests and Peter Siddle fell to a googly in the same over, four wickets going down in a space of ten overs after Tea.Mitchell Johnson hit 49-ball 38 to ensure that Australia took lead before Steyn removed Pat Cummins and Tahir foxed last man Lyon with another googly to limit Australia’s lead to 30.

Day Three

An unbeaten century partnership between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers put South Africa in command despite an eye-catching spell of hostile pace bowling by Pat Cummins who has impressed one and all in his first outing. The hosts ended the day with an overall lead of 199 runs with the two batting on 89 and 70 respectively.Facing a 30 run first innings deficit, Jacques Rudolph gave the hosts a fluent start before Cummins was rewarded for an excellent spell of new ball bowling. Smith too got a start but offie Nathan Lyon removed him and when Cummins returned to take out Kallis, South Africa were in need of a steadying partnership.At 90 for 3, Hashim Amla joined forces with de Villiers and set about rebuilding the innings. However, they were lucky to survive some close calls especially on the bowling of Cummins.

Having survived the initial burst, the duo looked to score whenever an opportunity was presented. With the pitch easing up a bit, stroke making was little more fluent, allowing Amla and de Villiers to tilt the scales in their favour.After another truncated day, the hosts had moved to 229 for 3 and needed to bat for another session and a half on the fourth day to put the game beyond Australia.

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