de Villiers blitz gives South Africa 442-run lead
Sunday, 22 March 2009
CAPE TOWN, Mar 21 (Cricinfo): An authoritative stand between AB de Villiers and Albie Morkel continued South Africa's domination - and Australia's agony - on day three in Cape Town. de Villiers ticked past his ninth Test century before he stepped on the pedal and produced one of the cleanest periods of hitting in recent memory, including four successive sixes off Andrew McDonald, to shove the opposition down a hole. In two sessions South Africa added an entertaining 247 to record their highest total against Australia.
A reinvigorated Australia had come out under sunny skies and took wickets early on day three, but the one man they failed to dislodge hung on to play an exceptional innings. In the morning de Villiers chugged along without shelving his range of strokes - the swivelled pull and shuffled clips were on full view - and his running between the wickets was excellent. If the first session set him up, the period between lunch and tea allowed him to thoroughly boss the attack.
Tea South Africa 651 (de Villiers 162, Albie 58) lead Australia 209 by 442 runs.
A reinvigorated Australia had come out under sunny skies and took wickets early on day three, but the one man they failed to dislodge hung on to play an exceptional innings. In the morning de Villiers chugged along without shelving his range of strokes - the swivelled pull and shuffled clips were on full view - and his running between the wickets was excellent. If the first session set him up, the period between lunch and tea allowed him to thoroughly boss the attack.
Tea South Africa 651 (de Villiers 162, Albie 58) lead Australia 209 by 442 runs.