PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, (Reuters) – Hashim Amla’s blistering stroke-play and Morne Morkel’s fearsome bowling put South Africa in control of the second test against Australia as they closed the third day on 192 for four yesterday.
The Proteas led by 369 runs with six second-innings wickets remaining and two days to go on a ground where the highest score chased down for victory was 271 by Australia in 1997.
Amla will resume on 93 not out with 21-year-old debutant Quinton de Kock on nine.
Amla’s positive stroke-play against all the Australian bowlers helped South Africa score at more than four runs an over and accelerated the game forward after a slow first two days.
Australia did make inroads into the top order, Graeme Smith (14) failing again after being bowled by Mitchell Johnson off the inside edge. Johnson also accounted for AB De Villiers (29).
Peter Siddle weighed in with two wickets, Dean Elgar (16) and Faf du Plessis (24), both caught behind by Brad Haddin.
“Credit where it is due, they bowled very well,” Australia captain Michael Clarke told reporters. “Our top order did not perform the way we would have liked. The wicket had deteriorated a bit so we are going to have to bat our backsides off in the second innings.
“I still think we can win, it will be an uphill battle and it will be determined by how much we need to chase. I would have put us in for five overs tonight if it was us in that situation.”
FIERY BOWLING
Fast bowler Morkel proved the catalyst for a sizeable South African lead as his fiery bowling helped restrict Australia to 246 in their first innings.
Having resumed on 112 for four, Australia battled to contain a rampant Morkel, who landed a number of sickening body blows to the body, including one into the side of the helmet of Johnson.
Morkel claimed three wickets in the innings, but his two spells of fearsome shot-pitched deliveries had the Australian hopping around the crease.
David Warner was the top scorer for the tourists with 70, but as he looked to score at the opposite end to Morkel he edged Philander to Smith at first slip.
Steve Smith made 49 before he was controversially given out on review by TV umpire Aleem Dar, caught by De Villiers off Morkel. There seemed little evidence to overturn the not verdict from on-field umpire Richard Illingworth.
Johnson made a brisk 27 but his blow to the head appeared to unsettle him and shortly afterwards he played all around a delivery from spinner JP Duminy and was bowled.
Ryan Harris (26) and Siddle (11 not out) put on 37 for the final wicket before the former edged Morkel to Du Plessis at second slip.
“I knew it would not be easy on this wicket, so keys for me were aggression and working on the right lengths,” Morkel said.
“I am not a big swinger of the ball, my strength is to get bounce and that means I sometimes think I bowl for just one dismissal, caught behind. But here because the ball keeps lower it brings more dismissals into play for me.”
Australia won the first test of the three-match series by 281 runs in Pretoria.
