Thursday, March 19, 2009

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTHAFRICA 3rd TEST:Steyn leads SA attack; Aussies 209 all out


Dale Steyn scalped four as Australia were dismissed for 209 in the first innings on the opening day of the third and final Test against South Africa here on Thursday.Simon Katich and Brad Haddin added a fighting 71-run stand to power Australia to 158-5 at tea.Katich (55) and Haddin (42 not out) rescued Australia from a precarious 81-4 after Dale Steyn, changing ends, had bowled Michael Hussey (20) and Michael Clarke (0) in successive overs.The pair batted for 84 minutes and 20 overs until Katich, who took 15 minutes to move from 49 to 50, top-edged spinner Paul Harris for debutant Imraan Khan to take the catch at mid-wicket. Khan had earlier dropped Katich on 9 at point off Makhaya Ntini.Katich was at the crease for almost four hours and hit seven fours in 160 deliveries. Harris had the best figures of 2-10, while Steyn took 2-46.Resuming after lunch at Newlands on 66-2, Australia lost two quick wickets.

Steyn bowled Hussey in the third over after lunch. The batsman went up onto his toes to defend, and the ball trickled from his bat back onto his stumps. Clarke lasted three balls, being beaten for pace by Steyn who clipped his off stump.Haddin and Katich then resurrected Australia's innings, with Haddin unleashing some powerful drives to hit eight boundaries in his 99-minute innings.Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.Phillip Hughes and Katich put on a subdued opening partnership of 58 before Hughes was out lbw for 33 sweeping left-arm spinner Paul Harris in the 23rd over of the day to leave Australia on 58-1.

Hughes, who was dropped at cover by JP Duminy two balls before his dismissal, hit four boundaries in 64 balls at Newlands.Seven balls later, South African Test debutant Albie Morkel dismissed Ponting in an impressive first spell.Morkel, who also made Hughes play a few false shots after replacing his younger brother Morne in the team, drew Ponting forward into an attempted drive and found the outside edge for a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to make the score 59-2.

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