South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Durban, 3rd day

Lightning Lee inspires Australia

The Bulletin by Peter English

March 26, 2006

Australia 369 and 125 for 1 (Ponting 48*) lead South Africa 267 (Kallis 114, de Villiers 50, Lee 5-69) by 227 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Brett Lee's four-wicket collection to end the South Africa innings began with Shaun Pollock's dismissal for 1 © Getty Images

A day that started with both teams unsure of their position finished with Australia staring down at their opponents and carrying a 227-run lead. A devastatingly quick spell from Brett Lee with the second new ball set up their dominance as he combined with Stuart Clark to spark a collapse of 5 for 12 that dropped South Africa from the comfort earned by Jacques Kallis's fighting century to a disappointing 267.

The brilliance of Lee, who stormed through the final four batsmen to gain 5 for 69, ruined the work of Kallis and Australia's top order added to the damage by posting 125 for the loss of Justin Langer for 37. Ricky Ponting drove the target-setting with 48, including a six and a four off one Nicky Boje over, while Matthew Hayden settled in as the passenger with 36.

With the match waiting for an irresistible force over the first seven sessions, Lee joined Clark before tea with South Africa sailing slowly but happily at 255 for 5 and dramatically changed the game. Clark started the demolition with a return catch off Kallis from his first delivery with the new ball and Lee finished things off with pure speed that almost nudged 160kph. One of Lee's many celebrations was Mark Boucher becoming his 200th Test wicket and his haul quickly pushed him to 202 as he knocked over Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini, putting him on a hat-trick in the second innings.

Shaun Pollock (1) fell to a nick and Boucher (19) lost his leg stump to an under-edge before Nel walked into a cloud of chatter from the fielders. Lee's swift removal of the two bowlers limited the rash of verbals and Australia took a first-innings lead of 102 that was highly unlikely as they struggled to conquer Kallis.

After haring to a wildly impressive half-century late on day two, Kallis pulled out the brake and tortoised to his 24th hundred. Starting on 72, he waited almost 45 minutes for his first two runs and his mood after lunch was similar as he grafted seven in the first hour. The conditions were still not conducive to free-flowing play - Kallis was hit on his injured elbow and the hand - and he sprinkled some fine shots, including the back-foot drive off Shane Warne in the over before lunch to bring up his century.

Jacques Kallis marks his 24th Test century with a satisfied salute © Getty Images

Ponting opened the match with a hard-working 103 that came under extreme pressure in Durban's most testing conditions, but he was building his side's innings after walking out with the score on zero. Today Kallis was performing with the strong platform set by himself and AB de Villiers and did not kick on.

His first fifty came in 49 balls on Saturday and was an incredible display of counter-attacking, but he woke up a new man and spent another 173 deliveries reaching his final score. The application was impressive but South Africa needed something more positive and they quickly wilted when he popped a catch to Clark.

Clark had also struck an important blow in the morning's third over to remove de Villiers, who registered a well-made half-century, with a sharp take from Hayden in the gully. Ashwell Prince arrived as the replacement and played soundly until Warne sparked a detrimental change in his outlook.

The 56-run partnership with Kallis ended when Prince charged Warne on 33 and miscued a legside flick. He left to a mock compliment from Warne, who had picked up his Prince for the tenth time. Warne improved the more he toiled and deceived Jacques Rudolph in the second session before watching the fast men blaze with the new ball. In a bowler's match Lee unleashed the finest spell and South Africa must at least match him if they are to remain in contention for the Test and the series.

How they were out

Australia

Justin Langer c Pollock b Boje 37 (49 for 1)
Tried to beat mid-on but failed

South Africa

Graeme Smith c Langer b Lee 0 (0 for 1)
Almost a copy of Hayden's dismissal; no feet movement and sharp catch

Herschelle Gibbs b Kasprowicz 9 (10 for 2)
Ball stayed slightly low as he jumped to play back

AB de Villiers c Hayden b Clark 50 (144 for 3)
Low take at gully from back-foot force

Ashwell Prince c Symonds b Warne 33 (200 for 4)
Down the pitch and clipped to forward square leg

Jacques Rudolph c Hussey b Warne 13 (226 for 5)
Inside edge on to pad from defensive push ballooned to short leg

Jacques Kallis c&b Clark 114 (255 for 6)
Turned bat and simple catch from leading edge

Shaun Pollock c Gilchrist b Lee 1 (256 for 7)
Great one-handed, diving take

Mark Boucher b Lee 19 (257 for 8)
Under-edge from attempted pull and leg stump left the ground

Andre Nel c Hayden b Lee (267 for 9)
Skewed catch to gully

Makhaya Ntini c Ponting b Lee 0 (267)
Fended to second slip

Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo

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Stories

Lightning Lee inspires Australia

Matches

South Africa v Australia at Durban

Players/Umpires

Jacques Kallis

Brett Lee

Shane Warne

Series/Tournaments

Australia tour of South Africa

Teams

Australia

South Africa