Graeme Smith produced an inspiring captain’s knock yesterday to lift South Africa’s morale in the second Test after a horror opening day chasing the ball in Australia’s run onslaught.
Skipper Smith knuckled down to carve out his 26th Test century with a belligerent unbeaten 111 as the Proteas clawed back to 217 for two in the chase after Australia’s hefty 550 in the first-innings. The world’s number-one ranked outfit had little to cheer on Thursday’s first day as Michael Clarke plundered his fourth double-century of the year and David Warner and Michael Hussey rifled rapid-fire tons to put the Proteas on the rack. But Smith lifted spirits and team resolve with his fighting hundred to give the South Africans a chance of going on to win this high-scoring encounter over the concluding three days under forecast searing temperatures.
The skipper has proved a lucky charm with his tons for South Africa - the Proteas have not lost a match in the previous 25 Tests in which he has scored a century.
“Graeme is set now and he’s looking good,” said fast-bowler Morne Morkel. “If we can put on a couple of partnerships, hopefully by the end of the day’s play we could be in range of their target and we’ll take it from there. He’s a fantastic leader and we’ve seen it again today. I think it’s the sort of experience you don’t buy at the supermarket. We needed a guy up front to be solid and he’s still there. I hope tomorrow can be a really big day for him.”
Smith rides his luck
Smith had some fortune on his way to his valuable hundred.
The powerful left-hander advanced down the wicket to spinner Michael Clarke on 46 but was given a let-off when wicketkeeper Matthew Wade badly fumbled the stumping chance. The Proteas skipper was later given out caught behind off James Pattinson on 78 but the review’s Hot Spot infra-red imaging system could not detect any touch and umpire Richard Kettleborough’s decision was reversed.
Part-time leg-spinner Warner snared the big wicket of Hashim Amla inside the final hour with wicketkeeper Wade stumping the accomplished number three for 11.
“Today’s a pretty big day I reckon in the Test match,” said senior Australian batsman Mike Hussey. “If we can bowl really well and restrict South Africa, then we’re in a great position to push forward and try to win this Test match. If they bat throughout the day and get up close or even get past our score, then I think it’s back to being a really even Test again.”
Earlier, Australia’s hopes of making a first innings total around 600 evaporated when South Africa finally removed skipper Clarke early on the second morning. Clarke was out for the first time in the series on 230, bowled by Morkel, who finished with five wickets for 146 off 30 overs.
M Morkel
“If we can put on a couple of partnerships, hopefully by the end of the day’s play we could be in range of Australia’s target and we’ll take it from there.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.
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