Proteas hit back with Katich dismissal
Friday, 20 March 2009
Tea: Australia 158 for 5 (Haddin 42*, McDonald 0*) v South Africa
Simon Katich had cut out all flash and gritted and grimaced his way through the morning and close to tea till a needless shot ended his vigil and rejuvenated South Africa on what has so far been a see-saw first day. Dale Steyn's double strike soon after lunch reduced Australia to 81 for 4 but, with the attack straying in line as the afternoon wore on, Katich and Brad Haddin had all but ensured Australia walked off with the session's honours. Till the pendulum swung once more - with Katich's wicket - on the stroke of tea.
Makhaya Ntini's exemplary yet wicketless opening spell in the morning was better, but Steyn's burst just after lunch yielded wickets. Having swatted Steyn for four to raise 3000 Test runs - the 33rd Australian to do so - Michael Hussey stood tall to defend and inside-edged onto the top of his stumps. The second wicket was just a special delivery. Michael Clarke pushed down the wrong line to a pearl that straightened and had his off stump knocked back.
A struggling Katich had dropped anchor way before, while Haddin produced a punchy counter-attack. Steyn ran in hard during that passage but the debutant Albie Morkel and Jacques Kallis weren't as threatening and the Australian pair prospered. South Africa's two double-strikes had forced Katich to cut out most of his strokes but he cashed in on a spate of wide deliveries to move through the forties and on to his half-century, from 138 balls.
Katich had been the chief beneficiary of South Africa's sloppiness in the morning - more of that later - and he appeared to have overcome all jitters. — Cricinfo
Simon Katich had cut out all flash and gritted and grimaced his way through the morning and close to tea till a needless shot ended his vigil and rejuvenated South Africa on what has so far been a see-saw first day. Dale Steyn's double strike soon after lunch reduced Australia to 81 for 4 but, with the attack straying in line as the afternoon wore on, Katich and Brad Haddin had all but ensured Australia walked off with the session's honours. Till the pendulum swung once more - with Katich's wicket - on the stroke of tea.
Makhaya Ntini's exemplary yet wicketless opening spell in the morning was better, but Steyn's burst just after lunch yielded wickets. Having swatted Steyn for four to raise 3000 Test runs - the 33rd Australian to do so - Michael Hussey stood tall to defend and inside-edged onto the top of his stumps. The second wicket was just a special delivery. Michael Clarke pushed down the wrong line to a pearl that straightened and had his off stump knocked back.
A struggling Katich had dropped anchor way before, while Haddin produced a punchy counter-attack. Steyn ran in hard during that passage but the debutant Albie Morkel and Jacques Kallis weren't as threatening and the Australian pair prospered. South Africa's two double-strikes had forced Katich to cut out most of his strokes but he cashed in on a spate of wide deliveries to move through the forties and on to his half-century, from 138 balls.
Katich had been the chief beneficiary of South Africa's sloppiness in the morning - more of that later - and he appeared to have overcome all jitters. — Cricinfo