Ponting would have been relieved a little when rain started to peep in the morning but that too could not stop the scripting of history at MCG by Smith’s devils. Once the play was started at the scheduled time, Cricket360 found it is just completing the formalities on the 5th day of the Boxing Day test. Smith never wanted to take chance as rain had been forecasted yesterday and he immediately got in to the business.  

The star skipper whose team is in the fore run to the top spot in test ranking, was instrumental in the first test which was won by the visitors chasing a mammoth total, with a superb ton. In the first innings of the 2nd test also he contributed admirable with a cricket score of 62 runs. Australia was unarmed from every angle on the last day and they were just like statues placed for the fulfillment of formalities by the opponents to lift the honor.  Ponting’s decision not to call Johnson in the early overs would be a point of discussion in the coming days.

Smith and Mckenzie came to the crease with a target of 153 runs in the morning as they had a fast addition of 30 runs yesterday without any loss. Smith started to excavate runs at a faster pace with an intention to finish the things off as fast as possible in order to deprive any chances of rain interruption in the test match. Body language of South African side was amazing and nothing would have stopped them from scripting the historic feat.

The requirement of the time for RSA was a good opening stand and the skipper made it happen along with McKenzie. He batted with perfection and his 75 runs came off 94 balls featuring 10 boundaries. The score remained in tact till 121 runs and then Ponting’s plan worked out as Smith was trapped before wicket by Hauritz .

Hayden was sure going through a bad patch but that wouldn’t make any excuse to his dropping Mckenzie at 49 in the slips. Mckenzie after that escape managed to register his half century and remained unbeaten at 59. Amla who came to party the historic victory after the departure of Smith, flicked the test series from Australia in the 48th over off Clarke. After their defeat to West Indies in 1992-92, Australia was once again subjected to bend before a visiting team at home that too with back to back defeats.

Australia would face more problems when they face Proteas in the last test at Sydney on January 3rd 2009 as they won’t be getting the service of Lee, Symonds and Shane Watson because of injuries. Further they have to surrender the top spot of test ranking after a long period of authentic era, if they face a defeat in that too as per Cricket360.com news desk.

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

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