AAP
Australia have set South Africa an Adelaide Oval record target of 430 runs to win after declaring midway through day four of the second cricket Test.
James Pattinson (29no) and Ben Hilfenhaus (18no) provided a late flurry to boost Australia's second innings score to 8-267dec, leaving South Africa needing to survive four and a half sessions on a deteriorating wicket.
South Africa must break a 110-year record for the highest successful chase at the ground to win the match.
However they will be encouraged by the strength of their line-up and the fact big fourth innings totals aren't unheard of in Adelaide.
The Proteas are the No.1 team in Test cricket and with Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis on deck, they're a batting side capable of pulling off something extraordinary or at least sticking around for a draw.
A series loss to Australia would likely lose them their No.1 ranking, so this looms as a mighty test of their mettle.
Dale Steyn (2-50) had Michael Clarke (38) lbw in the first session and Morne Morkel (3-50 and eight for the match) ploughed through Mike Hussey (54) just minutes before lunch and dismissed Matt Wade (18) shortly after.
Australia added 156 after resuming day for at 5-111.
Pattinson may have batted but Ricky Ponting confirmed before play that the injured pace weapon is highly unlikely to bowl - a further boost to the Proteas' hopes - after suffering a side strain on Saturday.
Pattinson is in big doubt to play the third Test in Perth.
"He was in a fair bit of pain when he left the field (on Saturday). I went down to talk to him after the first over he bowled and he could barely breathe so he was in a fair bit of trouble. We'll keep our fingers crossed," Ponting told Channel Nine.
The Adelaide pitch is difficult to bat on and the Proteas will again be nursing hamstrung allrounder Kallis.
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.
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, South Africa showed great 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 finished with the worst bowling figures in Test match history - 0-260 from 37 overs.
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