Duminy ton gives Proteas edge
Monday, 29 December 2008
A remarkable ninth-wicket partnership of 180, the third best in Test history, saw South Africa establish an unlikely first-innings lead of 65 in Melbourne, BBC reports.
JP Duminy was the last wicket to fall for a magnificent 166 after South Africa had started day three on a worrying 198-7, still 196 behind.
The Duminy-led fightback included Paul Harris's 39 and an extraordinary 76 from Dale Steyn in a total of 459.
At stumps, Australia were 4-0 in the early stages of their second innings.
Duminy had made his Test debut in Perth, where he hit a wonderfully composed 50 not out in South Africa's famous successful chase of 414.
The 24-year-old trumped that effort, though, with this terrific display of concentration in which he faced 340 deliveries and struck 18 boundaries.
And he found a particularly adhesive partner in number 10 batsman Steyn, who himself hung around for 191 deliveries.
Their partnership, played out before a disbelieving packed crowd at the MCG, spanned nearly 64 overs from well before lunch until beyond the tea interval.
It was a sorry day for Australia's bowlers, who desperately missed the cutting edge of Brett Lee. The experienced paceman missed the day's play with a sore left foot.
And although Lee has been upstaged by Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson in the series, those two seemed to panic without the presence of the experienced attack leader.
Duminy allowed Steyn - dropped three times by Australia in the field - to hit most of the extravagant shots in their stand, as he mainly nudged and scampered towards three figures.
He spent half an hour in the 90s and there was relief when he cut Siddle through gully for four, raised both arms and kissed his helmet badge. His team-mates had come down to the boundary edge to applaud his terrific effort.
Steyn's best moments came when he hit Johnson for two straight drives for four and mirrored the shot off Siddle to bring up his half-century. His personal memories will also include the towering six struck off Nathan Hauritz.
JP Duminy was the last wicket to fall for a magnificent 166 after South Africa had started day three on a worrying 198-7, still 196 behind.
The Duminy-led fightback included Paul Harris's 39 and an extraordinary 76 from Dale Steyn in a total of 459.
At stumps, Australia were 4-0 in the early stages of their second innings.
Duminy had made his Test debut in Perth, where he hit a wonderfully composed 50 not out in South Africa's famous successful chase of 414.
The 24-year-old trumped that effort, though, with this terrific display of concentration in which he faced 340 deliveries and struck 18 boundaries.
And he found a particularly adhesive partner in number 10 batsman Steyn, who himself hung around for 191 deliveries.
Their partnership, played out before a disbelieving packed crowd at the MCG, spanned nearly 64 overs from well before lunch until beyond the tea interval.
It was a sorry day for Australia's bowlers, who desperately missed the cutting edge of Brett Lee. The experienced paceman missed the day's play with a sore left foot.
And although Lee has been upstaged by Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson in the series, those two seemed to panic without the presence of the experienced attack leader.
Duminy allowed Steyn - dropped three times by Australia in the field - to hit most of the extravagant shots in their stand, as he mainly nudged and scampered towards three figures.
He spent half an hour in the 90s and there was relief when he cut Siddle through gully for four, raised both arms and kissed his helmet badge. His team-mates had come down to the boundary edge to applaud his terrific effort.
Steyn's best moments came when he hit Johnson for two straight drives for four and mirrored the shot off Siddle to bring up his half-century. His personal memories will also include the towering six struck off Nathan Hauritz.