South Africa closing in on series whitewash
Steyn grabbed two wickets to put Australia on the back foot
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Saturday, 03, Jan 2009 12:27
South Africa have enjoyed a good start to the third Test against Australia after restricting the hosts to 267-6 on the first day in Sydney.
The Proteas will overtake the Aussies as the top-ranked side in Test cricket if they can win the Sydney Test – which would also hand them a rare series whitewash on Australian soil.
Seamer Dale Steyn was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking 2-71, while Morne Morkel grabbed the vital wicket of Ricky Ponting for a golden duck.
Australia had Michael Clarke to thank for keeping them in the match once again after he scored 73 not out.
The home side won the toss and chose to bat on a good wicket and begun brightly with Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden (47) adding 62 for the first wicket.
However, Katich fell in the run up to lunch to Jacques Kallis for 31 before captain Ponting, who has been in imperious form with the bat this series despite Australia's losing record, went first ball.
After lunch Hayden's watchful innings was ended by Steyn as he failed to pas his half-century once again.
Michael Hussey has been struggling for runs as well and so it was no surprise that the Aussie scoring rate dipped dramatically in the afternoon.
Hussey eventually fell to Paul Harris for 30 and the spinner could have had another wicket soon after but Makhaya Ntini could not hold on to a chance that Clarke had given him at mid off.
Clarke and debut all-rounder Andrew McDonald (15) moved the Aussies onto 162 before Ntini made amends for his dropped catch with the wicket of McDonald.
Brad Haddin added some impetus to the innings with a brisk 38 with Clarke after tea but Steyn dismissed the wicketkeeper just before stumps to put the Proteas in a good position heading into day two at the SCG.
If South Africa win the Test it will be the first whitewash inflicted on Australia in 122 years.