CAPE TOWN : Australia captured an early South African wicket after
stretching their first innings by 70 runs on the second day of the first
Test at Newlands on Thursday.South Africa were 49 for one at lunch in reply to Australia's 284. Jacques Rudolph was bowled by Ryan Harris for 18.Australian
captain Michael Clarke took his score to 151 before he was last man out
in a frustrating morning for the South Africans.Clarke
resumed on 107 with Australia precariously placed on 214 for eight at
the start of play. Tailender Peter Siddle made 20 and supported Clarke
in a ninth wicket stand of 59, the second best of the innings, as the
last two wickets added 70 runs.South Africa paid the penalty
for setting defensive fields to Clarke from the start, with Clarke
edging Vernon Philander through a vacant second slip in the second over
of the day.But after that let-off Clarke continued to play
with the authority he displayed in salvaging his team's fortunes on the
first day.Siddle was dropped on five when Imran Tahir put
down a chance at backward point off Dale Steyn, who was unable to add to
his wicket haul, finishing with four for 55.Siddle finally
fell to Morne Morkel when he pushed a simple catch to AB de Villiers at
cover after defying the bowlers for 73 minutes and 54 balls.Joined
by last man Nathan Lyon, Clarke reached 150 for the fourth time in his
Test career with a scorching straight drive off Morkel but then had his
leg stump knocked out of the ground when he stepped away in an attempt
to force the bowler to the off side.He had batted for 266
minutes, faced 176 balls and hit 22 fours. Having come in with his side
in trouble at 40 for three he scored 151 of the 244 runs scored while he
was at the crease.Rudolph, the leading scorer in South
African domestic first-class cricket this season, looked in confident
form at the start of the home team's innings but was stuck on his crease
and bowled by a ball from Harris which cut back between his bat and
pad.
