South Africa’s hopes of salvaging their opening tour match in Australia were all but extinguished by lunch here Wednesday as they slumped to 120 for five in their second innings against Western Australia at the Waca Ground.
Forced to follow on after making a paltry first innings of 179 in reply to Western Australia’s 391 for 8 (declared), South Africa were still 92 runs adrift of the Western Australian total.
Despite promises from coach Mickey Arthur that they would be a different team on Wednesday, the tourists again wilted against a Western Australian attack that has struggled in the domestic competition this season.
Resuming from their overnight tally of 25 for 2, South Africa were lucky not to lose the wicket of Ashwell Prince when he was put down at point off paceman Steve Magoffin with the score at 37.
But just two runs later Western Australia got the early breakthrough when opener Jacques Rudolph, who is pushing for a berth in the opening Test against Australia starting in Perth on December 16, was caught on 18 after hooking a Ben Edmondson delivery.
Wrist-spinner Beau Casson, who took four wickets in the first innings, struck next for the hosts when he had Justin Kemp caught at long on for eight.
That dismissal left the Proteas struggling at 67 for 4 but worse was to follow when stand-in captain Mark Boucher was caught by Test opener Justin Langer at first slip — again off the bowling of Casson.
With the Proteas at 95 for 5, Ashwell Prince battled to add stability to the innings and salvage something from the match.
At lunch he was not out on 43 with Shaun Pollock on 15.
Arthur had said his players were deliberately at low intensity after a hectic touring schedule and medical advice had suggested they should be taking things easy.
He suggested they would re-focus by Wednesday and had not hit the panic button after Tuesday’s poor showing.
”Certainly, down the line, our intensity is going to increase hugely leading up to the Test match,” Arthur said. – Sapa-AFP