Australia vs South Africa – 2nd Test – Live Cricket Score and Match Update – Du Plessis helps South Africa earn epic draw
South Africa will go into the final Test at Perth in much confident mood after securing a hard-fought draw on day 5 of the second Test against Australia, ended shortly at Adelaide Oval, November 26, 2012.
They however, will be grateful to debutant Faf du Plessis, who batted the entire final day to remain unbeaten on 110. His 376-ball knock allowed the Proteas to end on 248 for 8, 182 runs short of the target set by the hosts. He consequently also became the fourth player from his country to score a debut ton, the others being Andrew Hudson, Alviro Petersen and Jacques Rudolph.
That target was put out of their reach on the previous day, when they had lost four top order wickets for 45. AB de Villiers and du Plessis had already weathered out 29 overs together before play resumed on the final morning and kept their opponents at bay for the whole of the opening session to go into lunch at 126 for 4.
The post-lunch session saw Australia finally getting a breakthrough, with Peter Siddle breaching the defences of the South African vice-captain. De Villiers batted 220 deliveries for his 33, without scoring a boundary; the lowest strike-rate for a Proteas player, and the second overall, for an innings of at least 30 runs in the longer format.
His partner however, kept on negating the Aussie threat and was helped by veteran Jacques Kallis, who again came in as late as 7 following an injury he sustained while bowling on the opening day. Both collected a combined 86 in the second session, as the match entered a frantic final two-hour.
Kallis eventually fell for 46, caught at forward short leg off Nathan Lyon but du Plessis kept going strong despite suffering cramps. The late order also offered reasonable resistance. Dale Steyn fended 28 balls without scoring, before getting out on a low full off Siddle. Rory Kleinveldt also hung around for 22 minutes and when he was cleaned up by the Victorian pacer, who by now had also run out of breath, Australia needed 2 wickets in four overs.
However, du Plessis and Morne Morkel weathered out the final Aussie burst to keep the Test series at 0-0. Its all to play for at Perth.
Tags: