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Cricket Victoria and MCG announced free entry to
the stadium on day five of the second Test between
Australia and South Africa. Or so read the
electronic scoreboard late on the fourth day's
play. That told a story of its own, with the South
Africans sliding towards a defeat that they fought
so hard to avoid in the first Test at Perth.
Australia prevailed at Melbourne by 184 runs and it
came after the visitors dropped their guard, their
defence and perhaps their morale after a strong
Australian riposte.
South Africa were up against a task that seemed
ominously similar to the one they contended with in
the Perth Test. Australia started the Melbourne
Test poorly with only four batsmen reaching double
figures, but their sheer resilience and pulled them
through. Ricky Ponting provided the fillip with his
twenty-sixth Test century, and the lower order put
together a huge partnership to haul Australia to a
respectable total.
Shaun Pollock got the early breakthroughs in
Australia's first innings, but it was Andre Nel's
purposeful four-wicket spell that did most of the
damage as Australia found themselves 239-8 despite
Ponting's heroics. If South Africa celebrated their
success on day one, the next day was nothing but
agonising for the tourists. Michael Hussey,
Australia's man of the moment, found a more than
willing partner in number eleven Glenn McGrath, and
the duo set up a record-breaking tenth wicket stand
of 107. Hussey's century took Australia to a score
of 355.
If the pressure told, it did not show in the way
South Africa began its reply. Abraham de Villiers
was assertive with his pull strokes in his innings
of sixty-one, but the job was still half done.
South Africa were well-placed at 169-2 at the end
of the third day at 169-2. Herschelle Gibbs batted
well at the number three position against the fiery
Brett Lee, who consumed three batsmen, including
Jacques Kallis and his namesake Rudolph, who had
batted so well at Perth.
The fourth day was a disaster for South Africa.
Every batsman got off to a start, but none built on
it. Lee was at his most lethal, and even the
seemingly innocuous deliveries of Andrew Symonds
were effective. Symonds' three scalps, including
that of Gibbs on ninety-four, spelt misery for the
visitors who fell short by forty-four runs.
The Australian batsmen roared in the second
innings. Not only did Matthew Hayden score his
twenty-fifth Test century, but he also found an
equally belligerent partner in the flamboyant
Andrew Symonds. Their 124-run partnership furthered
Australia's cause, even as the visitors lost the
services of Makhaya Ntini due to a hamstring
strain. While Hayden hammered his fifth century in
seven Tests, it was Symonds' lusty hitting,
including six thunderous sixes, that tweaked the
hearts of the brave South Africans. Symonds'
seventy-two came off just fifty-four balls, and by
the time Kallis struck to remove Hayden, Symonds
and Gilchrist, the hosts had the cushion of a lead
of 365 when Ponting declared.
Matters quickly turned grim for South Africa, who
found themselves at six down for ninety-nine. While
Shane Warne was at his immaculate best, the
Australian fielders left no stone unturned to put
umpire Asad Rauf under immense pressure.
Sub-continental teams, who are often accused of
excessive appealing, may have been amused by the
screeching Australians. It certainly bamboozled
Rauf at one point when Mark Boucher walked after
nicking the ball to an acrobatic Ponting even as it
seemed the umpire was in two minds.
Symonds, who had a wonderful match, dismissed both
the Jacques yet again. Only a miracle could have
saved South Africa from defeat on the last day.
Ashwell Prince and Shaun Pollock delayed the
inevitable with some gritty knocks, but the Aussies
wrapped up the match a little after lunch to seal
2005 on a high note. |