FRIDAY, 11.00AM:
SOUTH Africa’s top-order batsmen once again failed to take advantage of arun-friendly pitch, with only middle-order Herschelle Gibbs (54) and captain Hansie Cronje (56) keeping the flag flying as South Africa ended the first day of the second Test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on 197 for five wickets.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Cronje must have been a trifle worried when, after a sound second-wicket partnership of 45, the innings slumped to 70 for three. But Gibbs, playing in only his fifth Test, quickly restored some order to confidently crack out his first Test half-century.
The morning session, which was delayed by half an hour due to a wet strip next to the Test pitch, saw only one wicket fall — that of Gary Kirsten on 11, caught at first slip by Mark Taylor off McGrath’s bowling in the 13th over. Despite bringing on Shane Warne, the Aussies made no further headway until tea.
After the break, however, a change of pace brought about by seamer Greg Blewett saw Adam Bacher trapped leg before to give Blewett his second Test wicket two balls into his first over. Bacher batted for 121 minutes and hit 4x4s in his 39. When Jacques Kallis was run out just three balls later the South Africans had slipped from 70/1 to 70/3.
Next man up was Gibbs, and he wasted no time in proving to the tour selectors that they had done the right thing by promoting him at the expense of Daryll Cullinan. Supremely condifent from the word go, the 23-year-old Capetonian raced to his maiden Test half-century off 137 balls. At that stage he had hit five boundaries. However, a wild slash at a Bevan delivery edged the ball into wicket-keeper Healy’s hands — a poor way to go after 162 minutes at the crease.
But if that was bad, then Brian McMillan’s self-destruction was downright awful. Attempting to slog a Bevan full toss out of the ground, he smacked it straight into Elliott’s hands at mid-on. The fielder didn’t have to move an inch.
Scoreboard on the opening day of the second cricket Test between Australia and South Africa at the SCG on Friday:
South Africa first innings —
A Bacher lbw Blewett 39 (121m 85b 4×4)
G Kirsten c Taylor b McGrath 11 (55m 42b)
J Kallis run out (Ponting) 16 (68m 59b 2×4)
H Cronje not out 56 (240m 198b 4×4)
H Gibbs c Healy b Bevan 54 (162m 151b 6×4)
B McMillan c Elliott b Bevan 6 (14m 17b)
S Pollock not out 1 (56m 40b)
Extras (4b 2lb 1w 7nb) 14
Total (for 5 wkts) 197 — 97 overs, 362 mins
Fall of wickets: 1/25 2/70 3/70 4/167 5/174
Bowling: McGrath 14-5-45-1, Reiffel 16-6-24-0 (3nb), Warne 22-5-46-0 (3nb), Bevan 20-3-41-2 (1nb), Blewett 13-5-30-1, S Waugh 8-4-10-0 (1w), M Waugh 3-1-5-0, Elliott 1-0-4-0.
SPORT BRIEFS
SONO FOR BAFANA COACH? THE SA Football Association is expected to name two caretaker coaches for the national soccer side on Saturday, to replace Clive Barker. Speculation is rife that one of the caretakers, who will coach Bafana Bafana until the completion of the African Cup of Nations finals in Burkina Faso next month, will be Jomo Cosmos owner/coach Jomo Sono. Meanwhile, Frenchamn Philippe Troussier, who coaches Burkina Faso, is expected to be given the SA coaching job to take Bafana Bafana to the World Cup finals in June.
WP DETHRONE NORTHERNS WESTERN Province claimed their first trophy of the season on Thursday night when they dthroned titl-holders Northerns in the Standard Bank League Cup final at Newlands. Province elected to bat after winning the toss and toted up a comfortable 221/5 in their alotted 45 overs. The home boys scored a 33-run victory when Northerns were only able to score 188 all out in 42,1 overs.