PERTH:
South Africa, fired by a devastating spell of bowling from Dale Steyn and sustained by the batting of Hashim Amla, took a firm grip on the third and final Test against Australia to end day two with an imposing lead of 292.
Amla finished the day one run short of his 18th Test century with South Africa on 230 for two after paceman Steyn had taken four for 40 as the bowlers dismissed the hosts for 163 for a first-innings lead of 62.
“Steyn started well with the ball this morning,” said fast bowler Vernon Philander. “And then the way Graeme Smith and Amla batted was just unbelievable. The momentum’s on our side and hopefully we can keep it that way.”
Australia had started the day on 33 for two in front of a bumper WACA crowd hoping to see Ricky Ponting score a century in his penultimate innings. Their hopes lasted less than 40 minutes, however, as Steyn took three wickets in the morning sun.
“Not an ideal day,” said Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade. “We had high hopes when we came in this morning but things didn’t go well.” Ponting, welcomed by a standing ovation, managed just four runs when he was trapped lbw by Philander. Only Wade, who scored a bright 68, and debutant pace bowler John Hastings, the last Australian out for 32, offered any real resistance to the South Africans. Wade built a partnership of 55 with Mike Hussey and brought up his second test half century from 51 balls.
“We don’t feel the series has slipped away,” said Wade, perhaps mindful that South Africa chased down 414 to win at the WACA four years ago. “We need to come out and execute, take eight wickets, get ourselves into a real scrap and chase whatever total they put up.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.
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