ADELAIDE, February 2: Australia are facing an uphill task to prevent South Africa from winning the the Adelaide Test and levelling the series at 1-1. The home team, needing 329 runs on a sun-damaged pitch to win on the last day tomorrow, have already lost their two openers by close of the penultimate day.South Africa's position would have been even stronger if Adam Bacher, at short leg, had been able to hold a sharp chance offered by Mark Waugh, then on one, off Pat Symcox. Australia at the time were on a desperate 19 for two.
Australia's last hopes of saving the game -- and clinching an amazing ninth successive Test series win -- may have been snuffed out late in the day when skipper and opening batsmen Mark Taylor finally left the field for the first time in the match.
Taylor had been on the ground for almost 24 hours when fast bowler Lance Klusener joyously knocked back his middle stump with a delivery which flicked the left-hander's bat on its way through.
He was only the 11th Australian to carryhis bat in Test ranks and the first in Adelaide since Bill Woodfull in the infamous Bodyline series (1932-33) against England.
South African captain Hansie Cronje declared his side's second innings at 193-6 just over an hour before stumps, leaving Australia to score 361 for victory from a minimum of 107 overs.
Cronje's move came with opening batsman Gary Kirsten unconquered with a stylish 108, his sixth century in Test ranks and first against Australia. The left-hander did not offer a chance in his beautifully-controlled four-hour knock, which embraced 17 fours and a towering six off leg spinner Shane Warne. Kirsten's cultured innings followed a commanding 77 in the first innings. He was again well supported by the right-handed Adam Bacher (41) as the pair provided the Proteas with a fine launching pad by hitting 80 in 102 minutes.
The pair savaged the Australian attack by forging an opening stand of 140 in the first innings.
The South African second innings lost some momentum immediately after tea asdebutant leg-spinner Stuart Macgil sent down seven viciously turning overs to capture a well-merited 3-22 against batsmen in a desperate hurry to reach a declaration score.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa (1st innings): 517
Australia (1st innings): Mark Taylor not out 169, Matthew Elliott c Kallis b Pollock 8, Greg Blewett c Bacher b Pollock 31, Mark Waugh c Gibbs b Pollock 63, Steve Waugh c Richardson b Pollock 6, Ricky Ponting b Klusener 26, Ian Healy c & b Pollock 1, Adrew Bichel c Symcox b Pollock 0, Shane Warne c Richardson b Pollock 0, Michael Kasprowicz c Symcox b Kallis 17, Stuart Macgill b Symcox 10,
Extras (lb12, nb5, b2): 19.
Total (all out): 350
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-71, 3-197, 4-207, 5-263, 6-273, 7-279, 8-279, 9-317
Bowling: Pollock 41-11-87-7, McMillan 23-5-60-0, Kallis 18-5-45-1, Klusener 27-6-104-1, Symcox 13.5-3-40-1
South Africa (2nd innings): Gary Kirsten not out 108, Adam Bacher c Macgill b Warne 41, Jacques Kallis bKasprowicz 15, Hansie Cronie c Warne b Kasprowicz 5, Lance Klusener b Macgill 0, Pat Symcox c Healy b Macgill 2, Herschelle Gibbs st Healy b Macgill 2, Jonty Rhodes not out 19,
Extras (nb1): 1.
Total (for six declared, in 58 overs): 193
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-133, 3-155, 4-155, 5-157, 6-165
Did not bat: Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock, Dave Richardson.
Bowling: Kasprowicz 18-5-55-2, Bichel 14-2-51-0 (nb1), S Waugh 4-1-13-0, Warne 15-2-52-1, Macgill 7-1-22-3
Australia (2nd innings): Matthew Elliott c Richardson b Pollock 4, Mark Taylor b Klusener 6, Greg Blewett not out 9, Mark Waugh not out 11,
Extras (nb2): 2.
Total (for two wickets, in 17 overs): 32
To bat: Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Andrew Bichel, Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, Stuart Macgill
Bowling: Pollock 6-2-11-1, Klusener 5-2-12-1, Kallis 4-3-1-0, Symcox 2-0-8-0
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
