The Hindu : Sport : S. Africa closes in on consolation win

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S. Africa closes in on consolation win

Dale Steyn and Paul Harris scalp three each

CAPE TOWN: Superb bowling by Dale Steyn and Paul Harris reduced Australia to 231 for six at tea on the fourth day of the third Test as South Africa closed in on victory on Sunday.

Australia, which clinched the series by winning the first two Tests, still needs another 211 runs to make South Africa bat again. It was bowled out for 209 in its first innings before South Africa made 651, its highest score against the touring side.

Resuming on 142 for three after lunch, Michael Hussey failed to add to his interval score of 39 as he edged Steyn to J.P.

Duminy in the gully and Brad Haddin scored 18 before he lofted spinner Harris to the same fielder back-pedalling at deep mid-on.

Cameo

Michael Clarke went to a cameo 47 with seven boundaries before he reached for a drive well away from his body and only succeeded in edging Steyn into his foot, from where the ball rebounded into his stumps.

Clarke was earlier given out by umpire Steve Bucknor after he appeared to be caught behind off Jacques Kallis when he had made two.

But Clarke immediately asked for a referral and survived when replays showed his bat hit his pad.

It was the fourth successive time a decision by Bucknor, standing in his last Test match before retirement, was overturned on referral.

Steyn had taken three for 52 in 21 overs and Harris three for 66 in 31 overs to spearhead the South African attack.

Cautious batting

Simon Katich was the only wicket to fall in the morning, the opener driving Harris straight into the hands of Duminy at mid-off to be out for 54.

South Africa had to wait 98 minutes before Harris had Katich caught at mid-off after Katich and Hussey dug in with cautious batting, adding just 36 runs from the start of play.

Loose drive

Katich added 10 runs off 60 balls before playing a loose drive. He could have been out without adding to his overnight 44 when Harris put down a straightforward chance at gully off Steyn in the ninth over of the morning. — Agencies

SCOREBOARD

Australia — 1st innings: 209.

South Africa — 1st innings: Imraan c & b Siddle 20, A. Prince c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 150, H. Amla c Haddin b Johnson 46, J. Kallis c & b Hilfenhaus 102, A.B. de Villiers c McDonald b Katich 163, J.P. Duminy b Johnson 7, M. Boucher c Ponting b Johnson 12, A. Morkel b McDonald 58, P. Harris c Haddin b Johnson 27, D Steyn c Clarke b Katich 0, M. Ntini (not out) 4, Extras (b-19, lb-24, nb-10, w-9): 62; Total (in 154.3 overs) 651.

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-162, 3-322, 4-415, 5-443, 6-467, 7-591, 8-637, 9-637.

Australia bowling: Johnson 37.3-4-148-4, Hilfenhaus 34-4-133-2, Siddle 35-15-67-1, McGain 18-2-149-0, McDonald 27-7-102-1, Katich 3-1-9-2.

Australia — 2nd innings: P. Hughes c Kallis b Harris 32, S. Katich c Duminy b Harris 54, R. Ponting c Boucher b Steyn 12, M. Hussey c Duminy b Steyn 39, M. Clarke b Steyn 47, B. Haddin c Duminy b Harris 18, A. McDonald (batting) 16, M. Johnson (batting) 4, Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-3, w-1) 9. Total: (for six wkts. in 92 overs, at tea) 231.

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-76, 3-138, 4-146, 5-191, 6-218.

South Africa bowling: Steyn 21-4-52-3, Ntini 15-6-35-0, Morkel 14-0-55-0, Harris 31-7-66-3, Kallis 8-4-4-0, Duminy 3-1-14-0.

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