/ 6 December 2005

South Africa fail to fire on placid wicket

The Proteas showed glimpses of their attacking potential but again failed to produce a killer punch against Western Australia by lunch on the second day of their three-day tour match at the WACA Ground in Perth on Tuesday.

Half an hour before the interval the hosts declared their innings closed at 391 for 8 after losing three early wickets at the start the day.

In reply, the Proteas were 12 for 0 with AB de Villiers on 11 and Jacques Rudolph on one the not out batsmen.

Resuming at 306 for 5, Western Australia, who trail the domestic Sheffield Shield inter-state competition, again made use of an unusually placid WACA wicket to stave off a determined but so far less-than-formidable South African pace attack.

Charl Langeveldt, who took two wickets on Monday, added two more to his tally, including that of the troublesome David Bandy for 64.

Bandy tried a pull shot which he miscued and skied to Ashwell Prince at point.

His partner Shawn Gillies followed just one run later when he edged Makhaya Ntini to Herschelle Gibbs at third slip to leave the home side ar 324 for 7.

Big-hitting Luke Ronchi was the next to follow when he was clean-bowled by Langeveldt without offering a shot for 16 and with the total at 343.

A stubborn stand between tailenders Beau Casson and Steve Magoffin then followed with the pair adding 48 runs before the declaration came from captain Justin Langer.

Langeveldt finished the innings with 4-104 off 24 overs while the remaining bowlers all claimed one scalp, with the exception Justin Kemp who remained wicketless.

Shaun Pollock was on line finishing the innings with 1-51 from 22 overs, including nine maidens. – Sapa-AFP