Batsmen Prosper On Flat SCG Pitch

Batsmen Prosper On Flat SCG Pitch

Graeme Smith made 60 before retiring against Australia A.

©Action Images / Andrew Couldridge Livepic

Australia A 480-7d (Doolan 161no) v
South Africans 128-1 (Smith 60ret)
Tour Game, Sydney, Day Two

After seven wickets fell yesterday, mainly thanks to the excellence of Dale Steyn, the bowlers on either side were able to break through just once between them today as the already flat pitch at the SCG got flatter still.

Australia A added 155 to their overnight total before declaring not having lost a wicket, while the South Africans lost only Alviro Petersen before stumps, closing on 128 for one after 44 overs.

Graeme Smith and Petersen were hardly troubled during their opening partnership as Australia A’s attack, shorn of any more than one specialist bowler, struggled on the lifeless pitch.

Smith decided enough was enough with around an hour to go in the day and retired on 60 off 84 balls, having scored predominantly through his favoured leg-side during a relatively fast-paced innings. Petersen, was marginally more troubled, but began to find his stride after a slow start before top-edging a sweep off Glenn Maxwell to depart shortly before the close for 38 off 108 balls.

Hashim Amla ended the day on 27 not out, while JP Duminy was promoted above AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis in the batting order and finished on two.

Alex Doolan had earlier continued his excellent recent form by ending with a career-best 161 not out, having taken his unbroken eight-wicket stand with wicket-keeper Tim Paine (60 not out) to 162.

© Cricket World 2012