OMEN
04-03-2006, 09:25 PM
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In form ... Martyn sweeps past Boucher.
SOUTH Africa and Australia are locked in a tense battle after bad light ended play on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium.
Australia, needing 292 to complete a clean sweep of the series, was 6-248 at the close with Damien Martyn unbeaten on 93.Martyn and Michael Hussey (89) took Australia to within 94 runs of victory with a third wicket stand of 165 before a flurry of wickets lifted South Africa's hopes of avoiding its first home series whitewash since the 19th century.
Both teams were without key players. Australia opening batsman Justin Langer, concussed by a ball from Makhaya Ntini on Saturday, did not bat, while South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel left the field because of illness after only two overs.
Nel is expected to be able to play on the final day, with the new ball due after nine balls, and Australia needing 44 more to win with four wickets standing. There is an outside chance of Langer batting if needed.
South Africa quickly took the initiative at the start of the final innings and Australia was in trouble at 2-33 after losing opening batsman Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting.
Hayden was caught at third slip by AB de Villiers off Makhaya Ntini in the third over before a run had been scored.
Ponting made 20, including a four and a hooked six off Ntini, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher from an inside edge off Proteas captain Jacques Kallis.But Hussey and Martyn batted solidly as they shared the biggest partnership of a match in which bowlers have dominated.
The left-handed Hussey, who opened with Hayden in the absence of Langer, survived strong leg before wicket appeals by Nel and Shaun Pollock in the opening stages of his innings.
Both appeals were turned down by umpire Steve Bucknor. He also survived an appeal for a catch behind off Ntini's bowling when he had 19, with umpire Tony Hill giving him not out.
After those early scares, Hussey batted immaculately, reaching his second half-century of the match off 140 balls. Martyn's 50 was scored off 108 balls.
Hussey was finally trapped leg before by left arm spinner Nicky Boje after batting for 263 minutes and 197 balls.
"It was disappointing to get out at that time because we sort of just needed another 50 partnership and probably the game would have been beyond doubt," said Hussey.
"It was tough all day. I've definitely had my fair share of luck and you've got to take it really."
Andrew Symonds hit 29 off 21 balls before being caught behind off Jacques Kallis and his wicket was quickly followed by that of Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne, both caught behind off Ntini. Gilchrist was out first ball.
Brett Lee joined Martyn to bat through to the close. Martyn, who batted for 265 minutes and faced 184 balls, hit 12 fours.
Earlier, South Africa added eight runs for the loss of its last two wickets. It was bowled out for 258 in its second innings with fast bowler Brett Lee taking both wickets to finish with 3-57.
Boucher took his score from 55 to 63 before he was caught behind by Gilchrist.
Agence France-Presse
In form ... Martyn sweeps past Boucher.
SOUTH Africa and Australia are locked in a tense battle after bad light ended play on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium.
Australia, needing 292 to complete a clean sweep of the series, was 6-248 at the close with Damien Martyn unbeaten on 93.Martyn and Michael Hussey (89) took Australia to within 94 runs of victory with a third wicket stand of 165 before a flurry of wickets lifted South Africa's hopes of avoiding its first home series whitewash since the 19th century.
Both teams were without key players. Australia opening batsman Justin Langer, concussed by a ball from Makhaya Ntini on Saturday, did not bat, while South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel left the field because of illness after only two overs.
Nel is expected to be able to play on the final day, with the new ball due after nine balls, and Australia needing 44 more to win with four wickets standing. There is an outside chance of Langer batting if needed.
South Africa quickly took the initiative at the start of the final innings and Australia was in trouble at 2-33 after losing opening batsman Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting.
Hayden was caught at third slip by AB de Villiers off Makhaya Ntini in the third over before a run had been scored.
Ponting made 20, including a four and a hooked six off Ntini, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher from an inside edge off Proteas captain Jacques Kallis.But Hussey and Martyn batted solidly as they shared the biggest partnership of a match in which bowlers have dominated.
The left-handed Hussey, who opened with Hayden in the absence of Langer, survived strong leg before wicket appeals by Nel and Shaun Pollock in the opening stages of his innings.
Both appeals were turned down by umpire Steve Bucknor. He also survived an appeal for a catch behind off Ntini's bowling when he had 19, with umpire Tony Hill giving him not out.
After those early scares, Hussey batted immaculately, reaching his second half-century of the match off 140 balls. Martyn's 50 was scored off 108 balls.
Hussey was finally trapped leg before by left arm spinner Nicky Boje after batting for 263 minutes and 197 balls.
"It was disappointing to get out at that time because we sort of just needed another 50 partnership and probably the game would have been beyond doubt," said Hussey.
"It was tough all day. I've definitely had my fair share of luck and you've got to take it really."
Andrew Symonds hit 29 off 21 balls before being caught behind off Jacques Kallis and his wicket was quickly followed by that of Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne, both caught behind off Ntini. Gilchrist was out first ball.
Brett Lee joined Martyn to bat through to the close. Martyn, who batted for 265 minutes and faced 184 balls, hit 12 fours.
Earlier, South Africa added eight runs for the loss of its last two wickets. It was bowled out for 258 in its second innings with fast bowler Brett Lee taking both wickets to finish with 3-57.
Boucher took his score from 55 to 63 before he was caught behind by Gilchrist.
Agence France-Presse