South Africa picked up crucial late wickets to reduce Australia to 112 for four at the close of play on day two of the second Test match in PE at St George’s Park on Friday.
Australian opener David Warner is, 65 not out, and Nathan Lyon, who came in night watchman survived couple of close calls to, remain not out on 12.
Australia are still behind by 311 runs, and are in need of another 112 runs to make South Africa bat again.
Earlier in the day, hundreds from JP Duminy and AB de Villiers propelled South Africa to a 423 all out just after tea.
Duminy, 29, scored his hundred off 199 balls, smashing 14 fours, as South Africa crossed the psychological mark of 400. This was Duminy’s third international century.
Duminy fell eventually to spinner Nathan Lyon for 123 shortly after the tea interval. This wicket brought up the five-wicket haul for Nathan Lyon, who returned with figures of 5/130 in his 46 overs.
Duminy, who came in under pressure into this Tests, averaged just 11 in his previous seven Test innings, but looked settled from the first ball in this innings and brought up his third ton in Test cricket with muted celebration.
His third Test century came almost after two year gap, out of which he did spend almost half his time on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.
De Villiers, who went pass a personal milestone of 7,000 Test runs on Thursday, today became the first player to score fifties in 12 consecutive Tests. However, he did not stop there and reached his 19th as the Proteas dominated second day’s play.
He was finally removed on 166 with the team score on 349, as Nathan Lyon took a sharp caught and bowled chance.
In reply, Australia, at one stage, were reduced to 41/3. Philander struck the first blow when he trapped Chris Rogers leg before for five.
Surprise package Wayne Parnell then picked up for two in form batsmen – Alex Doolan (eight) and Shaun Marsh (duck), both edged to wicket-keeper De Villiers. With another duck in his short Test career Marsh has now as many as five ducks in his past 14 Test innings.
In stepped Australia’s best batsman skipper Michael Clarke, who looked fluent for his 19 runs before mistiming a cover-drive to Dean Elgar who tooka an easy catch at short-cover as Philander picked up his second wicket of the innings.
Lyon, who came in as night watchman, then some how managed to survive for the final 37 minutes, braving a hostile spell from Morne Morkel who was n fire in the last hour of play and almost dismissed David Wanrer, but De Villiers dropped an easy catch.
Visitors Australia leads the three Test series 1-0 via a victory in the first Test in Centurion, Pretoria by 281 runs.
