3rd Test: Faf rescues South Africa yet again

Second Test hero rescues his side after a collapse left Australia in command.

PERTH:

South Africa hit back with two wickets after Australia’s second-string pace attack dismissed the Proteas on a dramatic opening day of the third and final Test at the WACA Ground yesterday.

After electing to bat, the Proteas were bundled out for 225 despite more heroics from Adelaide Test hero Faf du Plessis in a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket. However, the Proteas quickly struck back with a vengeance, claiming the wickets of opener Ed Cowan (zero) and Shane Watson (10) and in the hour before stumps. At close, the home team were 33 for two, with David Warner on 12 and night watchman Nathan Lyon surviving a torrid examination from Steyn in the final over of the day to be seven not out.

While the South Africans were aiming for a score of 300, recalled spinner Robin Peterson said the two late wickets had renewed the team’s spirits.

“We have to make it (225) a good score,” he said. “But after being we are pretty happy getting with scoring 225, and especially getting two wickets late in the evening. It made 225 look like a decent score, especially if we can get one or two wickets this morning.”

Batting at number seven, second Test hero Du Plessis again played a lone hand in the South African first-innings and teamed with the tail to add vital late runs after the Proteas had slumped to 75 for six when they lost five wickets for 14 runs either side of lunch.

Debutant Australian paceman John Hastings conceded the home side had let the visitors off the hook and said the first hour of Saturday’s second day would be crucial to the outcome of the match.

“We let it slip a little bit, but 225 is still a pretty good effort to bowl them out,” he said. “The pitch will get better and if we can bat well for an hour in the morning, I think it will flatten out nicely.”

Australia were forced to completely revamp their fast bowling line-up for the match, with their three pacemen from the drawn Adelaide Test - Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson - all ruled out.

It was the returning Watson who claimed the initial breakthrough, having Graeme Smith caught at first slip by rival skipper Michael Clarke for 16. Starc removed opener Alviro Petersen (30) when he bowled the right-hander with a full delivery and then found a way through the defence of Kallis (two).

Already struggling at 63 for three at lunch, the Proteas crumbled after the resumption, with Hashim Amla (11), AB de Villiers (four) and debutant Dean Elgar (zero) all falling in quick succession.

J Hastings



“We let it slip a little bit, but 225 is still a pretty good effort to bowl them out. The pitch will get better and if we can bat well for an hour in the morning, I think it will flatten out nicely.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2012.