For those who have watched the match might have died from a lack of oxygen when you are looking at some breathtaking day with Australia being bowled for 47 straight after South Africa were bowled for 96...
South Africa 81 for 1 (Smith 36*, Amla 29*) and 96 (Watson 5-17, Harris 4-33) need 155 runs to beatAustralia 284 (Clarke 151, Steyn 4-55) and 47 (Philander 5-15, Morkel 3-9)
South Africa have survived the wrecking stumps like surviving a plane crash after a massive 23 wickets were taken in a low scoring frenzy with bowlers from opposite ends smashing their all-time records to Australia having a freak of a time surviving what could've been the lowest score in International cricket after at one time being at 21-9. (The lowest team innings total is Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka being bowled out for 35 in 2004)
It all started of as normal as a Test match can be with Australia in trouble starting at 214/8. Tail ender Peter Siddle played the support role for Michael Clarke to build a 61 runs partnership for the 10th wicket and this provided Australia the edge and pushed themselves thanks Michael Clarke's 151 adding 5 fours in today's session. But when Siddle and Clarke were dismissed finally in their 20 overs they had in the morning session.
Jacques Rudolph and Graeme Smith was going well when it came to their 1st Innings but the executioner came just in time for some action Shane Watson and Ryan Harris smashing the wickets and using the lively pitch as well as using some swing to reduce South Africa from 74-3 to 96 all out. Partly though is poor cricket shots being chosen and ordinary batting with only the openers reaching to double figures. Dodging their way of short balls, they needed to restrain hitting the short balls but yet and yet again by batsmen, they just couldn't keep away...
Shane Watson had 5-17 in staggering figures using his brilliant ability of executing short balls and mixing up various paces as well as Ryan Harris assisting with figures of 4-30.
South Africa were at the receiving end of the Test but not for long as Australia were hitting horrific records in their 2nd innings.
Yet though, there was still shocking things to come as Watson showing his class with the opening ball of their innings by hitting a boundary form Dale Steyn before bring lbw to a pitched ball poorly played for Steyn to gain quick revenge. Vernon Philander though had a Test Debut to remember for being better than Shane Watson's his bowling performance of 5-17 with 5-15 in 7 overs. Australia's batting was ordinary and were playing low shots at pitched balls especially the odd swinging ones that kept dismissing batsmen like Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey who nipped ones at slip. From 13-3 in a panic-stricken dressing to losing 6 wickets for 8 runs in the fight to control nerves rather than the bowlers. 21-9 looked so dismal in fact that the stands that contained Australian supporters were near empty. Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyons again pushed Australia ahead of the embarrassing the lowest team total score of 35 and pushed them to 47 all out.
South Africa now kept a cool head from celebrating Australia's continuous dismal run by making a quick dash off the start to their target of 236 and again Graeme Smith clicked into gear with 6 fours to be get to the end of a marathon of a day with an unbeaten 36 and undoubtedly more. Jacques Rudolph pushed for the speedy start with his 3 fours out of his 14 runs before Peter Siddle shows his ability of being a specialist batsmen by catching a thin edge to Brad Haddin. Hashim Amla was in the same frame of mind also hitting 6 fours to his 29 from 35 balls unbeaten to create a danger and with 155 runs more to take the first match, Australia must be in their beds praying for a miracle for tomorrow like today's 4 innings and 23 wickets marathon...
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