Australia Leave South Africa Clinging On In Adelaide

Australia Leave South Africa Clinging On In Adelaide

Peter Siddle (left) celebrates bowling Alviro Petersen (right) on the penultimate day in Adelaide

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 550 & 267-8 declared v
South Africa 387 & 77-4
Second Test, Adelaide, day four
Scorecard | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

South Africa were left clinging on as they reached stumps on day four of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide on 77 for four having been set 429 to win.

A half-century from Michael Hussey helped Australia to declare on 267 for eight and a brace of wickets from Nathan Lyon then left South Africa reeling.

Resuming on 111 for five, Australia made progress in the morning through Michael Clarke (38) and Hussey (54) before Dale Steyn trapped Clarke in front and Morne Morkel had Hussey caught by Steyn.

Morkel struck again to have Matthew Wade caught behind for 18 and after James Pattinson (29 not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (18 not out) had had some fun and frustrated the South Africans, Clarke declared with his side 429 runs ahead.

Morkel returned figures of three for 50, Steyn two for 50 and Kleinveldt three for 65.

Hilfenhaus, brimming with confidence, then almost immediately grabbed the prize of wicket of Proteas captain Graeme Smith when the first innings centurion was caught by Ricky Ponting without scoring.

Lyon then struck twice to remove Hashim Amla for 17 and Jacques Rudolph for four and Peter Siddle bowled Alviro Petersen for 24 in 62 balls.

New batsmen AB de Villiers and Francois du Plessis then made their intentions plain by shutting up shop and seeing out the rest of the day, prepared to simply bat time to try to save the match - with Jacques Kallis still to come, albeit on one leg thanks to a hamstring strain.

De Villiers used up 101 balls in making 12 while du Plessis, who carved an enterprising half-century in the first innings, stonewalled his way to 19 in 74 deliveries.

The series is level at 0-0 following a draw in the opening game in Brisbane.

© Cricket World 2012