Saturday, March 7, 2009

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTHAFRICA 2nd TEST:Johnson strikes, Smith injury hurt South Africa


South Africa seized the momentum on the second day of the second Test against Australia on Saturday before Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took two wickets in his opening over to wrest back the initiative.The South Africans took six wickets for 49 runs on Saturday to bowl out Australia for 352 just after lunch at Kingsmead.Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini claimed two wickets each with Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis taking one apiece to get South Africa back into the match after Australia had resumed on 303-4.However, South Africa were soon 0-2 after Johnson had Neil McKenzie caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on the third ball of the innings. Two balls later, Johnson trapped Hashim Amla lbw in a decision that was upheld after being referred to the TV umpire.There was little sign of the drama to come in the first hour of play, but the dismissal of Australian batsman Michael Hussey in the 12th over of the day was the start of more breakthroughs for South Africa.Hussey had his off-stump uprooted by Morkel on 50, having batted 214 minutes and hit nine fours, and having earlier had a running verbal battle with Steyn.The Australians scored 19 more runs before losing three wickets in six balls with the score on 348.The bowler to start the mini-collapse was regular partnership-breaker Kallis, who induced first test century-maker Marcus North to flick a ball to Steyn at square leg on 38. North hit five fours in 151 minutes.In the next over, Ntini found himself on a hat-trick after dismissing Haddin (5) and Johnson (0) in successive balls.Haddin pulled a ball straight to Hashim Amla at midwicket, and Johnson was out lbw after offering no shot to a full delivery.

Steyn claimed wickets with his second and fourth balls in the first over after the break as Australia lost its last nine wickets for just 144 runs at Kingsmead after their opening batsmen had put on 184 for the first wicket.Australia lead 1-0 in the three-match series.

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