A dazzling century from AB de Villiers – his eighth, in his 50th Test –
entertained the faithful on Fanatical Fans Day, but it was Australia that continued to dominate the opening Test at the Wanderers
The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran28-Feb-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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A dazzling century from AB de Villiers – his eighth, in his 50th Test –
entertained the faithful on Fanatical Fans Day, but it was Australia that continued to dominate the opening Test at the Wanderers. Having bowled South Africa out for just 220, they decided
not to enforce the follow-on, and had added a further 51 for the loss of
Simon Katich before bad light ended play with 30.3 overs still to be
bowled in the day.Katich was flummoxed by a nasty delivery from Morne Morkel that he could
only nick behind, but with Phillip Hughes playing some classy cuts and
drives interspersed with moments of acute discomfort against the short
ball, the lead swelled before the light became too poor to continue. South
Africa could have had him just before the tea break when Morkel got him to
fend one behind off the glove. With the umpire unsure, Graeme Smith
decided not to go for the referral.South Africa started the day poorly and never really recovered. The key
wickets were those of Neil McKenzie and JP Duminy. McKenzie’s 125-ball
vigil fetched him just 36, but he had managed to glue together an
indifferent top-order performance. Peter Siddle angled one in to strike
him low on the pad and Steve Bucknor had no doubt at all. McKenzie
reckoned he might have got an inside-edge, but TV replays suggested
nothing of the sort.That ended a 44-run partnership, and reunited two of the heroes of the
Perth victory that was the springboard for South African success in
Australia. An appeal for a catch down the leg side off Duminy couldn’t be
referred because the appropriate replay couldn’t be found, and the
Australian mood got worse when Ricky Ponting put down a chance to his
right at second slip after Duminy edged an away-going delivery from
Mitchell Johnson.It had been hard going for South Africa, with Siddle generating lively
pace and Ben Hilfenhaus giving them nothing whatsoever to hit. When de
Villiers struck gorgeous off and cover drives from successive Hilfenhaus
deliveries, it seemed that the shackles might be broken, but it proved to
be the cruellest of false dawns.Duminy had repeatedly been targeted with the short ball, and when Johnson
directed one at the body, the fend only found Brad Haddin’s gloves down
the leg side. Moments later, the controversy. A beautiful delivery angled
across Mark Boucher and squared him up completely. Billy Bowden’s finger
went up almost as soon as the keeper and slips did, but Boucher was
convinced he hadn’t hit it.Another referral, and yet more disappointment for South Africa. With the
images inconclusive, Asad Rauf, the third umpire, had no option but to
uphold Bowden’s decision. Off trudged Boucher, leaving de Villiers with
sole responsibility for resurrecting the innings. He got to his 50 from
122 balls, and then said hello to Marcus North with a superb heave over
midwicket, but it was all going awry at the other end.Morkel decided to stand and deliver against Siddle, and the top-edge was
easily taken by the bowler himself and when Paul Harris was given out leg
before to North despite the ball striking his toe outside the line, the
follow-on was imminent. The Australian lead would have been even healthier
but for another fielding lapse. Siddle induced a nick from de Villiers,
then on 64, and Haddin dived across in front of first slip and spilled it.Steyn was peppered with bouncers, and when one was fended off awkwardly,
Marcus North couldn’t back-peddle quickly enough from first slip to take
the catch. De Villiers continued to work the ball around and swung North
to the midwicket boundary to move into the 90s. Andrew McDonald was
perhaps unlucky not to have him leg before for 92, but the third umpire
didn’t see enough to reverse Bowden’s decision after Australia opted for a
referral.Steyn eventually edged McDonald to first slip, but an emphatic pull for
four off Hilfenhaus took de Villiers to a richly deserved century. Just in
time too, because Ntini didn’t last very long. The series may only have
been three days old, but suddenly, all the talk of South Africa and the
No.1 ranking was looking a little premature.
