Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010558481700.htm

Sport

Australia posts best score of the series

Sydney: South Africa got off to a sedate start after Michael Clarke’s sterling century and some spectacular rearguard action powered Australia to its best score of the series so far on day two of the third and final cricket Test here on Sunday.

Resuming on 267 for six, overnight batsmen Clarke (138) and Mitchell Johnson (64) stitched together an invaluable 142-run stand for the seventh wicket before Nathan Hauritz (41) and Peter Siddle (23) also chipped in as Australia raised 445 runs in its first essay.

In reply, South Africa lost Neil McKenzie (23) to Peter Siddle and Graeme Smith (30 retired hurt) to injury before reaching 125 for one at stumps. It still trails the host by 320 runs in the first innings with nine wickets in hand.

In-form Hashim Amla (30) and veteran Jacques Kallis (36) were in the middle, having put on a 49-run stand and looking good for more.

Smith hurt his little finger after a Johnson delivery bounced sharply to hit him and the South African skipper, already nursing an elbow injury, headed to the hospital for an X-ray.

Earlier, Dale Steyn and Paul Harris claimed three wickets apiece but overall, it was quite a toil for the South African bowlers who just could not get the better of the Australian tail-enders’ determination.

Clarke’s 10th Test century was a product of his more than six-hour vigil, during which he faced 250 balls, hitting 17 boundaries in the process.

Johnson’s career-best 64 came in nearly three hours, off 124 balls with 11 boundaries in it.

A sharp single brought up Clarke’s first century at his home ground. It was only when Duminy made his Test debut as an off-spinner that the batsman looked in trouble.

Eventually, it was a Duminy’s full toss which claimed Clarke’s wicket. Johnson fell to Steyn when Smith took the catch in the slip, not before completing his second Test half-century.

Hauritz and Siddle also decided to make a mark with the bat and the duo added 59 runs for the ninth wicket before Harris broke the stand.

When Smith and McKenzie walked out to spearhead South Africa’s reply, neither looked in comfort, especially against Doug Bollinger. Smith twice edged the ball but it didn’t carry to the slips. — PTI