Cricket360 yesterday mentioned about the responsibility of Clarke and Lee to help the Aussies post a big total to realize a come back in the test series against Proteas. The batting duo took over it neatly and the morning session started with fast addition of runs by them. They added 42 runs to the overnight score of 280/6 in less than 6 overs and the fire works got a jolt when Steyn got rid off Lee in his early morning spell. He celebrated his fourth wicket in the form of Jhonson in the same over at a score of 326/8 and things were indicating an early surrender by the Australia in the morning session itself. But Clarke with great caution prevented it with the help of Siddle and Hauritz and the last wicket partnership of 42 runs would be creating head ache to the South Africans in the sessions ahead.

Clarke shouldered the responsibility in an admirable manner and he remained unbeaten at 88 runs after his side dropped their arms at a live score of 394 runs in 113-4 overs. Steyn was the only man doing the tricks for Proteas and he bagged a five wicket haul in the 1st innings for 87 runs from 29 overs.

South Africa had to pad up before the lunch itself and Smith was once again looking in great touch. The surprise was in the form of Siddle who had been handed over the new ball by Ponting and the young pacer proved the decision a right one by removing the bails of Mackenzie in his first over itself. Lee was looking like a shadow of the past performer and was harmless. Johnson brought the 2nd break through for Australia by sending back Amla for 19 runs and the score was just 39 runs at that time. Kallis and Smith made the things round up and put up a partnership of 63 runs for the 3rd wicket. But just before lunch Kallis was uncomfortable playing a sweep shot off Hauritz and Haddin scalped him for 26 runs. At lunch Proteas were at a loss of 3 wickets and the score was just over 100 runs.

After lunch Siddle’s plan succeeded as he could induce Smith to kiss a wide ball and it landed safe in the hands of Haddin. That could have been the turning point of the innings, for he could have made the score look much in favor of Proteas had he been there for the whole day in the crease. The skipper added 62 runs laced with 7 boundaries. De Villiers was struggling to score a run as he took 25 balls to open his account and he had a funny dismissal. Siddle, who was appealing for an LBW against De Villiers was shown the broken stumps by his team mates and the walking back batsman could pick only 7 runs to add to his team total cricket score 132/5.

Boucher has been creeping through some bad patches in his career and he could not make any impact here also before failing miserably to sweep Hauritis and the bowler pocketed his 2nd wicket. Morkel and Duminy were trying to save the day without further causalities but just before half a dozen overs left to the day’s play Jhonson struck hard to break their partnership of 43 runs by bowling Morkel out for 21 runs. Harris and Duminy were there in the crease at stumps on day 2 at a score of 198/7.

South Africa is trailing behind by 196 runs and the last registered batsman left is Duminy. The whole work of demolition was carried out by Siddle and Hauritz, comparatively the less experienced bowlers to Jhonson and Lee. Cricket360.com found their inclusion in the Aussies contingent justified. The developments on the 2nd day of the Boxing Day test is going to give some results in the test and Australia would be able to make it in favor of them if they could get Proteas all out in the early session on the 3rd day.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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