BRISBANE — South Africa were made to endure a few nervy moments before securing a battling draw against Australia on the fifth day of the first test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground yesterday.
Report by Supersport
Australia had declared their first innings closed on 565 for five, an hour before lunch, with Michael Clarke unbeaten on 259 off 398 balls with 26 fours, the highest test score at the Gabba, giving Australia an overall lead of 115.
The Proteas then made their way to 166 for five in their second innings with Jacques Kallis top-scoring with 49 as the tourists eked out a 51-run lead.
South Africa were essentially six wickets down with JP Duminy unable to bat due to injury and Australia were kept interested in pulling off an unlikely win as the tourists lost wickets at regular intervals, but eventually AB de Villiers, with 29 not out off 114 balls, ensured the match ended in a draw.
The early part of the day had belonged exclusively to the hosts as Clarke and Michael Hussey took their 50-wicket stand to 228 off 45,3 overs.
Hussey brought up his 17th test century off just 128 deliveries, but he departed one ball later when he was caught at short cover off a Morne Morkel delivery.
Clarke reached 250 off 391 balls. His entire innings included 13 fours, while Matthew Wade weighed in with 19 not out to hasten Clarke’s early declaration.
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Morkel ended the innings with 3-127.
South Africa’s innings did not get off to the best of starts when Alviro Petersen (5) wafted at a wide delivery from paceman James Pattinson to send an outside edge through to keeper Wade.
But Graeme Smith (23) and Hashim Amla (38) put on a second-wicket partnership of 49 runs. Although Amla did enjoy a life when, with his score on seven, he was bowled a Pattinson no-ball, the fourth wicket to “fall” to a no-ball during the match.
Smith departed after lunch after he was roughed up by Pattinson before the left-handed batsman drove loosely to a wide delivery with Rob Quiney taking a good tumbling catch in the gully.
Amla then fell in slightly soft fashion when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Peter Siddle straight to Mike Hussey at short cover as South Africa took tea on 114 for three.
Kallis had looked in fine touch as he struck five fours and a six during his 91 ball innings before he edged a delivery from off-spinner Nathan Lyon to first slip.
Lyon then trapped Jacques Rudolph (11) leg-before to cause a few flutters in the Proteas’ change room before De Villiers and Vernon Philander (1) shut up shop.
