Bowlers put Aussies on top in Melbourne
Lee will hope to wrap up the South African innings tomorrow
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Saturday, 27, Dec 2008 11:22
Australia's bowlers have put them in a strong position to win the second Test against South Africa after restricting the tourists to 198-7 on day two in Melbourne.
The Aussies began the day on 280-6, on the back of captain Ricky Ponting's century, but with the match finely poised it was Michael Clarke who seized the opportunity for the home side.
He guided the Australian tail end to add a further 114 runs in the morning session and take his side up to 394 all out.
Clarke finished on 88 not out having received support from Brett Lee (21), Nathan Hauritz (12) and Peter Siddle (19). Clarke and Siddle shared a partnership of 42 for the last wicket which helped put the Proteas on the back foot.
Worse was to come for the tourists as they lost two quick wickets after the lunch interval. Neil McKenzie (0) fell to the tenth ball of the innings and Hashim Amla could add just 19 to leave South Africa on 39-2.
Captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis (26) steadied the innings before Kallis gave his wicket away cheaply – mis-timing a sweep of Hauritz that gave Brad Haddin an easy catch behind the stumps.
Smith had scored 62 before he became Siddle's second victim of the day, the Proteas skipper edged behind stretching for a ball outside off stump.
Siddle was having an excellent day and was in the wickets again when AB de Villiers, South Africa's hero in Perth, failed to get his innings under way and was bowled by the seamer having scored seven off 51 balls.
Mark Boucher (3) came and went quickly while Morne Morkel blasted a brisk 21 but the worry for the Proteas was the amount of wickets they were losing.
When Morkel fell they were seven wickets down and had still not reached the follow-on target.
JP Duminy got them past that mark and remains unbeaten on 34 but only has Paul Harris, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini for support on day three.