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Duminy puts South Africa in strong position

Steyn weighs in with solid support

— FILE Photo

ELEGANT DRIVE: South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy enthralled everyone with his exquisite strokeplay on day three against Australia.

MELBOURNE: Jean-Paul Duminy, in only his second match, played as fine an innings as you’d hope to see here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, lifting South Africa from a precarious position in the Boxing Day Test to one of strength.

Duminy, whose compact stature, stylish left-handed strokeplay, and neat footwork have already drawn comparisons to the great Neil Harvey, concentrated for over seven hours for a classy, controlled, technically pure 166.

Although it was an evenly proportioned innings, featuring as it did back-cuts, square-cuts, pulls, flicks, and glances, the poise and elegance of the cover-driving demanded attention. Duminy’s balance and use of the crease against both pace and spin were of the highest quality.

Contextual significance

As attractive as the 24-year-old’s maiden century (340b, 18x4) was, it stood out for its contextual significance.

South Africa began day three on 198 for seven, 196 behind Australia’s first-innings score of 394. Duminy, who, on debut, had contributed a nerveless unbeaten half-century to the record chase at Perth, again displayed great character in distress.

He added 180 for the ninth wicket with Dale Steyn (76), frustrating Australia and helping South Africa gain a 65-run first-innings lead.

Steyn, who benefited from lax Australian catching, batted admirably, often thumping Mitchell Johnson down the ground.

Woes compounded

Australia’s woes were compounded by Brett Lee’s absence. The out-of-form paceman appeared to hurt his left foot on day two and didn’t take the field on Sunday.

Lee is almost certain to miss out the third Test against South Africa starting on Saturday in Sydney due to a foot injury, team Physio Alex Kountouris said.

Kountouris termed the condition as “a stress reaction of the metatarsal bone which could soon turn into a stress fracture” and said Lee might spend the next month remaining out of action.

That would rule Lee out of Australia’s ODIs against South Africa and New Zealand and would mean a potential return in the Test series in South Africa that begins in late February.

SCOREBOARD

Australia — 1st innings: 394.

South Africa — 1st innings: G. Smith c Haddin b Siddle 62, N. McKenzie b Siddle 0, H. Amla c Symonds b Johnson 19, J. Kallis c Haddin b Hauritz 26, A.B. de Villiers b Siddle 7, J.P. Duminy c Siddle b Hauritz 166, M. Boucher c Hussey b Hauritz 3, M. Morkel b Johnson 21, P. Harris c Johnson b Hussey 39, D. Steyn b Siddle 76, M. Ntini (not out) 2; Extras: (b-5, lb-13, nb-15, pen 5) 38; Total: (in 153 overs) 459.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-39, 3-102, 4-126, 5-132, 6-141, 7-184, 8-251, 9-431.

Australia bowling: Lee 13-2-68-0, Siddle 34-9-81-4, Johnson 39-6-127-2, Hauritz 43-13-98-3, Clarke 8-0-26-0, Hussey 5-0-22-1, Symonds 11-3-14-0.

Australia — 2nd innings: M. Hayden (batting) 1, S. Katich (batting) 2; Extras: (nb-1) 1; Total: (for no loss in three overs) 4.

South Africa bowling: Steyn 2-0-4-0, Ntini 1-1-0-0.

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