Australia v South Africa – South Africa tour of Australia (3rd Test) – Live Cricket Score and Match Update [Day 2] – Proteas begin building on lead
After Robin Peterson polished off Australia’s tail, limiting the hosts to a first innings total of 163, South Africa’s openers Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen began the task of strengthening their team’s dominant stance, and extended their lead to 86 runs by tea, with 10 wickets remaining, on the second day of their ongoing final Test against Australia, at the WACA in Perth today on December 1.
Australia’s Nathan Lyon (12-1-41-3), Mitchell Starc (16-3-55-2) and Mitchell Johnson (17-3-54-2) played key roles in limiting the Proteas to a first innings total of 225 on day one, with Faf du Plessis (78*) remaining the stand-out performer, while Alviro Petersen (30), Robin Peterson (31), and Vernon Philander (30) chipped in with mediocre scores.
Australia’s first innings was similarly disappointing, and the later part of day one, and the earlier session on day two, saw fiery Proteas pacers Dale Steyn (16-4-40-4) and Vernon Philander (16-0-55-2) joining forces to scythe through most of Australia’s top and middle order.
Cowan (0) and Watson (10) had already been dismissed on day one, and the second day of play saw David Warner (13) and Nathan Lyon (7) making early exits at the hands of Steyn. Ricky Ponting (4), due to retire after the ongoing Test, made his long-awaited entrance at number five, but failed to make much of an impression, sent swiftly back to the pavilion by Philander.
Skipper Michael Clarke (5) was unable to offer his team much by way of an example, and was caught out by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers off Steyn in the 17th over, leaving Australia at 45 for 6. Matthew Wade (68) stepped up to resuscitate the team’s flagging innings, and his partnership with Michael Hussey (12) appeared to be what the Aussies had been waiting for, before Morne Morkel intervened to snuff their stand out at 55.
Wade trudged onwards, teaming up with John Hastings (32) for a 40-run 8th wicket stand. However, the hosts received a devastating blow in the 46th over, with Robin Peterson (8.1-1-44-3) sweeping in to claim Wade as his first wicket.
The Proteas spinner then proceeded to mop up the tail, dismissing both Johnson (7) and Hastings. Within 54 overs, Australia were bowled for 163 – 62 runs short of the Proteas’ first innings total.
Bolstered by their lead, South Africa proceeded to build on it, and openers Graeme Smith (2*) and Alviro Petersen (21*) got the team total up to 24 for 0 by tea, extending the lead to 86 runs, with 10 wickets still in hand.
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