South Africa were in a good position at close of play on the first day of the second Castle Lager Test at Kingsmead on Friday, when they snatched three late wickets to have Australia on 228-5 at stumps.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first. South Africa struck an early blow in the second over, when Matthew Hayden got a top-edge to a delivery from Makhaya Ntini, which was safely caught by AB de Villiers at third slip before any runs had been scored.
For most of the day it was a war of attrition, as South Africa managed to keep the run rate down to about two and a half an over — well below the normal four an over the Australians pride themselves on.
The tactic of keeping the run rate down bore fruit after lunch. Jacques Kallis, who had been miserly in his first spell, bowling four maidens in his six overs, and conceding just three runs, achieved a breakthrough with his first delivery after lunch when he had Justin Langer caught behind by Mark Boucher for 35.
Langer and Ponting put on 97 for the second wicket.
Australia put on just 64 runs in the afternoon session, going to tea on 138-2. After tea, the South Africans continued to make runs hard to come by, with some tight, disciplined bowling and some good field placing by Graeme Smith.
As the advent of the new ball drew near, Ponting inched towards his 29th Test century. After spending some time in the nineties, he finally achieved this with a boundary off Nicky Boje.
He had been at the crease for five hours and 21 minutes, and had faced 224 balls. He had been dropped twice — once by Boucher when he had five, and on 36, when he nicked a ball that made its way between Smith and Kallis at first and second slip.
Ponting’s ton also marked his century partnership with Damien Martyn. But the very next ball, Boje got his revenge, when Herschelle Gibbs took a very good catch at short cover to send Ponting back to the pavilion on 103.
Ntini achieved another breakthrough with his second delivery with the second new ball, when Kallis caught Martyn for 57. Martyn’s 23rd Test half century came up off 130 balls, and included nine boundaries.
Ntini struck again in his next over, with Brett Lee, sent in as nightwatchman, caught behind by Boucher for a duck.
Andrew Symonds took his place. The drama continued, as a steepling ball from Ntini — the second Symonds faced — hit him in the face. Symonds looked visibly shaken as blood streamed from his nose and mouth, but continued to play after some treatment on the field.
At close of play, Symonds was not out on four and Michael Hussey had 10. — Sapa