Australia take four wickets after declaration
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
CAPE TOWN, Mar 3 (AFP): Australia claimed four wickets before lunch after captain Michael Clarke declared their first innings on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Monday.
South Africa were 127 for four at lunch in reply to Australia's 494 for seven declared.
South African captain Graeme Smith failed again when he was caught behind off Ryan Harris for five in the fifth over. Smith has made only 42 runs in five innings in the series.
Dean Elgar made 11 before he was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off James Pattinson.
At that stage South Africa were 42 for two. Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla added 53 off 58 balls with Petersen reaching a fluent half-century off 50 balls with eight fours.
But Petersen added only three more before he gloved Mitchell Johnson down the leg side for Haddin to take his third catch of the innings.
Amla looked in good form, but was bowled for 38 when Harris made a ball swing back sharply to find a gap between bat and pad.
Harris was the most impressive of the Australian bowlers, taking two for 18 off nine overs.
With play starting 30 minutes earlier because of rain which cut 51 overs from the second day's play, Clarke declared overnight.
It proved a shrewd move because there was early movement off the pitch for the bowlers, with Smith caught off a ball from Harris which seamed away from him.
Lunch scores on the third day of the third and final Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands on Monday.
Australia, first innings:
C Rogers c Smith b Steyn 25
D Warner c De Villiers b Duminy 135
A Doolan c Steyn b Philander 20
M Clarke not out 161
S Smith b Elgar 84
S Watson c Amla b Duminy 40
B Haddin c Amla b Duminy 13
M Johnson c De Villiers b Duminy 0
R Harris not out 4
Extras (nb6, w6) 12
Total: (7 wkts declared, 127.4 overs) 494
South Africa, first innings
G Smith c Haddin b Harris 5
A Petersen c Haddin b Johnson 53
D Elgar c Haddin b Pattinson 11
H Amla b Harris 38
A de Villiers not out 13
F du Plessis not out 2
Extras: (lb1, nb2, w1) 4
Total: (4 wkts, 32 overs) 127