Proteas close on series victory
Dale Steyn took ten wickets across the two Australian innings
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Monday, 29, Dec 2008 12:32
South Africa look in good shape to claim an historic series win over Australia after closing day four in Melbourne on 30-0, chasing 182 to win.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith and fellow opener Neil MacKenzie successfully saw out six overs from pacemen Brett Lee and Peter Siddle as they set themselves up for an assault on the victory target heading into day five of the second Test at the MCG.
Earlier, Dale Steyn claimed his second five-wicket haul of the match as the home side were dismissed for 247 - captain Ricky Ponting falling agonisingly short of back-to-back centuries when he was caught by opposite number Smith off the bowling of Morne Morkel when on 99.
However, the rest of the Australian line-up failed to fire as the tourists took the upper hand from the opening session onwards.
Some express bowling from Steyn took the wickets of under-pressure opener Matthew Hayden (23) and his partner Simon Katich (15) in the morning before the out-of-form Mike Hussey (two) was unlucky to be given out caught by Hashim Amla off Morkel after replays suggested the delivery only struck his helmet.
Ponting and Michael Clarke (29) saw the wobbling hosts through to lunch, but the latter was out in the afternoon after being caught off Steyn's hostile bowling with the pair closing in on a century partnership.
A mini collapse followed as Andrew Symonds (0), Brad Haddin (ten) and Brett Lee (eight) all fell cheaply to leave Australia on 180-7.
Just when it looked as if Ponting would stage another captain's innings at a crucial time, however, he was the next man out after attempting a loose drive that was pouched by Smith at cover.
Tail-ender Mitchell Johnson (43 not out) contributed useful runs as he moved the score up to something nearing respectability.
But when the hosts were all out before the end of the day, and South Africa needing only 153 on Tuesday to seal an unassailable 2-0 series lead, the writing is on the wall for the current top-ranked Test side in the world.