Australia has South Africa by the scruff of the neck in the second Test but the Aussies' commanding second innings lead may not be unassailable against the world's best team.
South Africa must break a 110-year record for the highest successful chase at the ground to win the match, however the Proteas will be encouraged by the fact big fourth innings totals aren't unheard of in Adelaide.
However, they need to clean up the tail quickly on Sunday.
Michael Hussey lost his wicket just before lunch. Photo: Getty Images
Australia went to lunch 7-206, a giant lead of 368 runs with three wickets in hand on day four.
Dale Steyn (2-42) had Michael Clarke (38) lbw and Australia added 95 after resuming at 5-111.
Morne Morkel (2-37) took the crucial wicket of Mike Hussey (54) just minutes before lunch was taken.
Matt Wade (13no) and James Pattinson (0no) were to resume with Australia likely to declare some time before tea, unless it is bowled out.
Pattinson might be batting, but Ricky Ponting confirmed before play that the injured quick is highly unlikely to bowl after suffering a side strain on Saturday.
Pattinson is in massive doubt to play the third Test in Perth.
The Adelaide pitch is difficult to bat on and the Proteas will again be nursing hamstrung allrounder Jacques Kallis when it's their turn to face the music.
The highest successful fourth-innings chase at Adelaide Oval was 6-315 by Australia against England back in 1901-02.
However, India scored 445 and lost in 1978.
And England posted unsuccessful fourth innings totals of 370 in 1921 and 363 in 1925.
With Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Kallis in their line-up, South Africa can't be completely ruled out and will at least believe they're capable of batting more than a day for a draw.
No team has made more than 340 runs to force a fourth innings draw at Adelaide.
On their most recent tour to Australia in 2008-09, the South Africans showed incredible poise to score 414 in a second innings chase to win in Perth.
In the Sydney third Test that year they came within a few balls of saving a match in impossible circumstances on the fifth day.
South African spinner Imran Tahir has terrible match figures of 0-249 - the second worst in Test history.
AAP
No comments:
Post a Comment