South Africans complete satisfying warm-up
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Western Australia 280 (Johnston 83, Heal 68, Harris 4-94) drew with South Africans 8 for 320
South Africa will enter Wednesday's first Test in a confident mood after their bowlers completed a strong hit-out in the two-day match against Western Australia's 2nd XI at the WACA. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Paul Harris came through the drawn game after minor injuries and the only concern was an ankle problem for the wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Steyn fired some early shots for the South Africans with two wickets in his first spell against an outclassed home side and Harris, the left-arm spinner, captured 4 for 94 in his return from a fractured thumb. Western Australia were dismissed late in the afternoon for 280, 40 short of the South Africans' first-day total.
The 12-over workout was valuable in Steyn's first match of the tour and his 2 for 33 showed he had overcome a hamstring strain picked up against Bangladesh. Morkel, who hurt his ankle in a one-day warm-up on Thursday, and Harris also had productive spells as they got used to the local conditions.
Boucher joined the minor-injury list with a sore ankle, but is not in danger of missing the first Test. AB de Villiers, the stand-in wicketkeeper, received his first chance in the second over when Wes Robinson (0) edged Steyn and the home side was 2 for 18 following Craig Simmons' nick behind from the same bowler on 15.
Harris trapped Clint Heron lbw for 17 shortly before lunch, but he experienced some serious punishment late in the day when Aaron Heal took him for four sixes in five balls. Heal got too adventurous on the final delivery of the over and was caught near the boundary at square leg by Makhaya Ntini for 68 from 40.
South Africa will enter Wednesday's first Test in a confident mood after their bowlers completed a strong hit-out in the two-day match against Western Australia's 2nd XI at the WACA. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Paul Harris came through the drawn game after minor injuries and the only concern was an ankle problem for the wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Steyn fired some early shots for the South Africans with two wickets in his first spell against an outclassed home side and Harris, the left-arm spinner, captured 4 for 94 in his return from a fractured thumb. Western Australia were dismissed late in the afternoon for 280, 40 short of the South Africans' first-day total.
The 12-over workout was valuable in Steyn's first match of the tour and his 2 for 33 showed he had overcome a hamstring strain picked up against Bangladesh. Morkel, who hurt his ankle in a one-day warm-up on Thursday, and Harris also had productive spells as they got used to the local conditions.
Boucher joined the minor-injury list with a sore ankle, but is not in danger of missing the first Test. AB de Villiers, the stand-in wicketkeeper, received his first chance in the second over when Wes Robinson (0) edged Steyn and the home side was 2 for 18 following Craig Simmons' nick behind from the same bowler on 15.
Harris trapped Clint Heron lbw for 17 shortly before lunch, but he experienced some serious punishment late in the day when Aaron Heal took him for four sixes in five balls. Heal got too adventurous on the final delivery of the over and was caught near the boundary at square leg by Makhaya Ntini for 68 from 40.