Hashim Amla and A.B. de Villiers shared an unbeaten century partnership as South Africa recovered after a poor start to its second innings on the third day of the second and final cricket Test against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium, here on Saturday.
South Africa was 229 for three at close. Amla was on 89 and de Villiers 70 and their fourth-wicket stand is worth 139 runs. The pair had to survive some hostile bowling from 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins, who struck twice as South Africa lost three wickets before lunch.
Cummins bowled immediately after lunch and had a confident shout for leg before wicket against Amla turned down by umpire Billy Bowden.
The Australians asked for a review and Bowden's decision was upheld when replays showed the ball would have hit the leg bail — in the umpire's discretionary area.
Close escape
De Villiers also had a close escape against Cummins when he edged the ball down the leg-side dangerously close to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin. Cummins dismissed Jacques Rudolph for 24 and Jacques Kallis for two as the advantage in the morning swung to Australia, which needs a win to level the series.
South Africa also lost captain Graeme Smith, who made 36 before cutting off-spinner Nathan Lyon to backward point.
Starting the day 30 runs behind Australia's first innings total, South Africa quickly wiped out the deficit, with Rudolph looking in outstanding form as he made 24 off 23 balls with five fours.
But with the total on 40, Rudolph tried to pull a short ball from Cummins which rose sharply into his body and the ball looped off the splice of his bat to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.
Smith was out tamely to Lyon and the scoring rate slowed as Amla and Kallis concentrated on defence. But Cummins came back into the attack and produced a good delivery which Kallis edged to Australian captain Michael Clarke at first slip.
Scoreboard
South Africa — 1st innings : 266.
Australia — 1st innings : 296.
South Africa — 2nd innings : G. Smith c Hughes b Lyon 36, J. Rudolph c Haddin b Cummins 24, H. Amla (batting) 89, J. Kallis c Clarke b Cummins 2, AB. de Villiers (batting) 70, Extras (b-4, lb-1, nb-1, w-2): 8; Total (for three wkts. in 69 overs): 229.
Fall of wickets : 1-40, 2-75, 3-90.
Australia bowling : Johnson 17-1-77-0, Cummins 17-3-46-2, Siddle 17-6-41-0, Lyon 11-3-41-1, Hussey 4-0-9-0, Clake 2-1-2-0, Ponting 1-0-8-0.
