JOHANNESBURG : An unbeaten century stand between Hashim Amla and AB de
Villiers dimmed Australia's victory hopes as South Africa reached 191
for three at tea on the third day of the second test at the Wanderers on Saturday. Amla
and De Villiers came together during dark times for South Africa, with
the loss of their leading run-scorer Jacques Kallis 10 minutes before
lunch leaving them on 90 for three in their second innings, a lead of
just 60 runs. Both batsmen scored half-centuries and, when
tea arrived, their partnership had grown to 101, with Amla on 69 not out
and De Villiers 54 not out.Both batsmen survived some
scares straight after lunch, with Amla coming closest to being dismissed
when fast bowler Pat Cummins struck him on the pad in the first over of
the second session. Australia reviewed umpire Billy
Bowden's not out decision and Amla survived because the referral showed
the ball was clipping the bails, creating enough doubt for the on-field umpire's decision to stand.Both
batsmen survived some risky shots before settling down in the latter
half of the session and producing some marvelous strokes as they
stretched the lead to 161.Eighteen-year-old debutant Cummins had claimed the key wicket of Kallis to rock South Africa just before lunch.South
Africa had stuttered to 94 for three at lunch, as Cummins removed both
Kallis (2) and opener Jacques Rudolph (24) to go into the break with two
for 27 in nine overs. Kallis, who became just the fourth
man to score 12,000 Test runs in the first innings, prodded at a fine
delivery that moved away outside off stump, finding the edge of his bat
and giving Australia captain Michael Clarke an easy catch at first slip.Rudolph, playing his second Test since his return to the
team after a five-year absence, scored his 24 runs off just 23 balls,
stroking five beautiful boundaries, but then lost his wicket as he tried to pull Cummins but could only sky a catch to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.Cummins,
who is playing just his fourth first-class match, belied his years as
he bowled with both pace and accuracy, enjoying the extra bounce on
offer from the Wanderers pitch.South Africa, who resumed
their second innings on nought without loss after facing just four balls
on the second evening, made a good start as captain Graeme Smith and
Rudolph added 40 for the first wicket.Smith looked in fine
form as he scored 36, but the left-hander then top-edged a cut at
off-spinner Nathan Lyon and was caught by Phil Hughes at backward point.Play was delayed for several minutes shortly before lunch
as De Villiers was getting treatment for his foot after being struck by a
rapid Cummins yorker. (Reuters)
