Even though Australia could mount a big total on the 2nd day, Cricket360 is not confident of their revival in the coming days, for they had gone to sleep with considerably higher totals in the last two tests also but had lost the control of the match in the later days. But they can relieve a little as they can fight against a team deprived of a great skipper. A delivery from Johnson, which rose up all a sudden, struck on the little finger of Smith’s left hand. Smith has already been suffering from an elbow injury and he fought it to the last possible minute until he was taken to the hospital at 30 runs. Amla and Kallis put up a 49 runs stand to avoid any damage and finished with 30* and 36* respectively at stumps to post a cricket score of 125/1.

Australia was getting the service of bowlers, once their main batsmen failed to perform as per the need of the time and their veteran batsmen should have learnt from their bowling companions. Clarke was determined and he showed his intention clearly by sending the very first ball of the day to the fence and Johnson was instrumental to provide much needed assistance to his vice captain by contributing 64 runs to the live score bricked with 11 fours. Clarke put forward some unorthodox shots considering Australian batting style and extended the overnight score of 77 runs with perfection. He was full of joy after attaining his 10th ton with a quick single and that run was dangerous enough to be referred to third umpire. At lunch the equation was relieving for Aussies and Clarke looked much confident.

Post lunch Smith invited Duminy , the star of 2nd test at MCG, to have a try and the decision proved beneficial to Proteas as Clarke served Duminy with a return catch on a full tose delivery to end his innings at 138. He worked for more than six hours and smashed 17 fours off 250 balls. In fact the lethargic fielding of Proteas helped Johnson to perform his role beautifully as he was dropped at 11 by Kallis. He took advantage of it and managed to leap up to his highest score in test cricket. Smith but did not make any mistake in snapping him off Steyn at a score of 381/8. The partnership of Siddle and Hauritz swung the day to Australia’s way and they added 59 runs for the third wicket and the score was 440 when Siddle fell at last for 23 runs. Hauritz was the last man to go and he too could find his career best by scalping 41 runs. For Proteas, both Steyn and Harris looked good with 3 wickets each even though they could not stop the tail end of Aussies from scoring dangerously.

Smith and Mckenzie were not bothered about a big total to chase and did their part with perfection until former got hit with a Johnson delivery. Smith was said to have sustained fractures on his left little finger and would probably be missing the left out days. Mckenzie’s fight lasted till the score of 76 runs and he struggled to play a Siddle delivery to find himself trapped LBW. Amla and Kallis will continue on 3rd day as they could reduce the trail to 320 runs at stumps on day 2 and they would be looking for a sweep of the series as far as Cricket360.com is concerned.

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

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