Australia anticipates victory – 2nd Test vs. South Africa

South Africa 1st innings 388 and 2nd innings 4-77 (Alviro Petersen 24, Faf du Plessis 19*, Nathan Lyon 2-15) requires 353 more runs to win vs. Australia 1st innings 550 and 2nd innings 8-267 declared (Michael Hussey 54, David Warner 41, Morne Morkel 3-50)

The Australian bowlers struck again in the second innings vs. South Africa and the home side requires six more wickets with one day left to win the second Test.

Australia hammered 550 runs in their first innings followed by 8-267 declared in the second. The 1st innings of South Africa was squeezed at 388 and they were struggling at 4-77 in the 2nd innings.

The fourth day’s play finished on Sunday, November 25, 2012, at Adelaide Oval.

The Australian camp anticipates win in the second Test
The Australian camp anticipates win in the second Test

Earlier, the Kangaroos commenced the day at 5-111 after utilising 32 overs, Michael Clarke was batting at nine runs and Michael Hussey was at the other end for five runs. The two batsmen scored 16 runs in the first six overs and both hit a four each in the next over and went past 150 runs mark in the 43rd over. Clarke opened his arms by dispatching 13 runs in the 47th over off Imran Tahir with 1 six and 1 four but was declared leg before wicket off Dale Steyn on the first ball of the next over even after claiming review.

The sixth wicket fell at 173 as Michael Hussey completed his 29th Test fifty in the 54th over with a four and kept on consolidating the innings. He was finally caught by Dale Steyn at midwicket off Morne Morkel for 54 off 95 balls with 7 fours. Matthew Wade played a hard fought innings of 18 from 50 balls with just one four and he was the eighth batsman who went back to the pavilion at 220 runs.

James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus associated together and accumulated few quick runs in the end. Hilfenhaus hit 3 fours in the 67th over and Pattinson added 4 fours in the next couple of overs. Michael Clarke declared the innings as the score reached 267 for the loss of eight wickets in 70 overs after gaining an overall lead of 429 runs.

Morne Morkel and Rory Kleinveldt were the most successful bowlers with three wickets each as Dale Steyn claimed two.

South Africa required 430 runs to win the match that was the highest target to be chased in the Test history. West Indies holds the record for the highest run chase in the longer version of the game against Australia. The history was created on May 13, 2003, at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua.  The Windies amassed 418 runs in their second innings for the loss of seven wickets and won the match by three wickets. Australia was led by Steve Waugh and Brian Lara was the captain of West Indies as Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul thrashed 105 and 104 runs respectively.

The Proteas faced a shock in their second innings when their skipper, Graeme Smith was caught by Ricky Ponting in the second slip off Hilfenhaus for a duck on the last ball of the first over. Hashim Amla joined in next with Alviro Petersen hit 3 fours in the following two overs and Amla got the same result in the next two overs. The pair took the score to 36 when Hashim Amla was gone for 17 runs and Jacques Rudolph became the next victim for just three runs after the addition of nine runs in the total.

Alviro Petersen was clean bowled by Peter Siddle on the last ball of the 21st over and the visitors were reeling at 4-45. The out of form, AB de Villiers and the debutant, Faf du Plessis got together at the crease and tried to consolidate the innings. The duo found it hard to score the runs and quite a few overs ended as a maiden and the boundaries were very rare to find. The overs Nos. 42 to 45 remained maiden again and the next five overs produced just two runs with another three maidens.

The tourists were struggling at 4-77 in 50 overs, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis were at the crease for 12 and 19 runs accordingly.

Natahan Lyon got two wickets whereas Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle shared one wicket each.

Australia is in a commanding position and finds them on a driving seat with a maximum chance of grabbing the match whereas South African batsmen have to play miraculous innings to create a history.


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