Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers combined to establish an invaluable partnership to take South Africa’s lead over Australia to 199 on day three of the second and final Test between the two sides.
Each came close to being dismissed by debutant Pat Cummins in the first over after lunch, but they survived the thunderbolts sent down by the 18-year-old. The pair also defused the other significant threat of spinner Nathan Lyon on a wearing pitch, before bad light ended play early.
Amla and de Villiers shared an unbeaten 139-run partnership as South Africa recovered after a poor start to their second-innings had reduced them to 90 for three.
The pair had to survive some hostile bowling from Cummins, who struck twice as South Africa lost three wickets before lunch.
Cummins had a confident shout for leg before wicket against Amla turned down by umpire Billy Bowden, while de Villiers had a lucky escape when he edged the ball down the legside close to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.
Earlier, Cummins dismissed Jacques Rudolph for 24 and Jacques Kallis for two. South Africa also lost captain Graeme Smith, who made 36 before cutting Lyon to backward point.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2011.
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