Sport - Cricket

South African batsmen show more resilience
By Malcolm Conn

CAPE TOWN, MARCH 10. The spirit South Africa's bowlers showed in the second Test has finally been reflected by its batsmen as they defied Australia at Newlands on Sunday, threatening to set up the first real contest of the summer.

However while four batsmen scored half-centuries, none went on to make the big score that would drag the match away from Australia. By stumps on the third day, South Africa had moved to 307 for four, leaving the game in the balance with an overall lead of 164.

Gary Kirsten made his second good score in three Tests, 87, following his 153 in Sydney and Graeme Smith embarrassed the contrary Daryll Cullinan with 68. Smith was chosen as a last-minute replacement for Cullinan after the veteran batsman refused to play because of a contract dispute and scored more in his first Test than Cullinan ever managed against Australia.

In 13 innings over seven Tests, the 35-year-old had a top score of just 47. As South Africa attempt to find a new generation, Cullinan's banishment will be a long-term blessing for the team on and off the field.

It was a fine innings by Smith, 21, after a difficult start given that he had struggled against Australia playing for South Africa `A 'in two previous tour matches. Smith, who batted for more than three and a half hours, faced 147 balls and hit nine fours was third man out, given caught behind by umpire Steve Bucknor to a delivery from Shane Warne which squeezed between bat and pad and may have hit both.

Kirsten played with commendable concentration to anchor his side, batting for four hours and 20 minutes, facing 182 balls and hitting 11 fours. He was a little unlucky with his eventual demise, leg before wicket to Brett Lee bowling around the wicket. Kirsten shared a 99-run second wicket partnership with Smith in 140 minutes.

The opening stand of 84 by Herschelle Gibbs (39) and Kirsten was the best for South Africa since the 87 they compiled in the first innings of the first Test in Adelaide almost three months ago, when these lop-sided matches began with so much anticipation.

Such has been the domination of Australia's opening bowlers, and Glenn McGrath in particular, that Sunday's opening stand was also the second best by any opponent since the Indian tour a year and 13 Tests ago.

Gibbs eventually helped Shane Warne continue an impressive 100th Test, caught bat-pad defending at silly point by Ricky Ponting.

Kirsten passed 50 for just the second time against Australia this summer and the second time in 13 innings. It was his 26th half-century in 82 Tests.

After a dreadful first Test, Jacque Kallis played with great composure, taking on the Australian bowlers. Early in his innings Kallis hit Brett Lee for three boundaries in one over. Kallis was given out by umpire Bucknor leg before wicket to Warne playing forward to a ball which went straight on and hit him low on the front pad. The right-hander's 73 took little more than two hours and came in just 96 balls with 12 fours.

On a flat wicket offering nothing to the pacemen but something to the spinners, Shane Warne bowled a marathon 42 overs in a day extended to 100 overs after bad light had brought an early halt the previous evening. He finished with 3-100.

While this Test will be remembered as another Adam Gilchrist extravaganza it could have become a defining moment in South African history. Eight of the 10 wickets in Australia's first innings were taken by `non-white' players.

Moreover, the two bowlers who did the damage, Makhaya Ntini (93 for four) and Paul Adams (102 for four) managed to build sustained pressure for the first time in five Tests against the world Test champions. Subsequently the Australians were bowled out for under 400 for the first time this summer in two series against South Africa.

The performances of the whole-hearted Ntini and the too-often overlooked Adams should have calmed some of the nonsense which has been driving a wedge between the new and old South Africa.

Now we have a situation where those who have stood tallest in their side are a in a minority amongst the XI representing their national cricket team. For Adams, still only 25, it was extra special. He became the eighth South Africa and, significantly, the first non-white to claim 100 wickets for his country.

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