Australia vs South Africa, 2nd Test ,
Match drawnInnings Comparison, Man of the match: F du Plessis
South Africa Innings 2 Australia Innings 2 South Africa Innings 1 Australia Innings 1
Commentary
The series was hyped as the battle for the No. 1 rank. South Africa have so far done enough to live upto their ranking. But things can change very rapidly when these two teams meet for the final time at the WACA. The 3rd Test starts on the 30th November. Let me finish with this small note, South Africa have never lost a Test match when their skipper scores a century and this was Smith's 26th Test ton. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..
As expected, Faf du Plessis the MoM fo his two outstanding contributions..
There will be changes from both sides at Perth. Watson should surely return for Quiney while Starc can be expected to fill in for the injured Pattinson. Will SA risk playing Tahir at the bouncy WACA? Will Kallis play the 3rd Test? A lot of questions needs to be answered.
Australia will ponder over about this draw. They had the match all but sewn up but could not find the killer touch. The pitch did stay true for the entire duration and the bowler's can't be blamed for the efforts. Lyon bowled 94 overs in the match while Siddle and Hilfenhaus sent down 54 and 64 overs respectively. The loss of Pattinson towards the end of the visitor's 1st innings hit them badly.
Relief for South Africa, they go to Perth with a 0-0 scoreline. It did not look like it when they were 45/4 mid-way through the fourth day. No praise can be enough for Faf du Plessis, he was just a replacement player for J P Duminy who got injured on the first day of the Gabba Test. Duminy said that his replacement would do a good job and du Plessis has made sure of that. 78 in the first innings and a superb rear-guard knock of 110 in the second innings. He joined AB de Villiers in the middle with the Aussie bowlers having tasted blood, soothed the nerves with a partnership that was very defensive but required at that stage. He did not lose focus even after the dismissal of Jacques Kallis as he marshalled the lower order quite superbly. A new star has been born, a pity that it took South Africa so late to realise that.
End of over 148, 8 runs (. . . 4 4 . )
RSA: 248/10
Morne Morkel - 8(12) This over: 8 runs
Faf du Plessis - 110(380) This over: 0 runsPeter Siddle
(33.2 - 15 - 65 - 4)
Faf du Plessis - 110(380) This over: 0 runsPeter Siddle
(33.2 - 15 - 65 - 4)
0
147.6Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
no run, jubiliation in the SA camp, they have escaped from the jaws of a certain loss. The two batsmen warmly hug each other, Siddle is down on his hunches, he gave it all that he had. This was a full ball just outside off, pushed towards cover
4
147.5Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
FOUR, SA have saved the Test match , this was full and outside off, Morne Morkel gets forward and drives it wide of cover for a boundary
4
147.4Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
FOUR, it is all happening here, this was a full toss outside off, Morne Morkel drives it back past the bowler, the fielder doesn't give a spirited chase, he is more than happy to let the ball win the chase
0
147.3Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
no run, on a length and just outside off, Morkel gets across and defends it solidly
0
147.2Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
no run, Siddle goes for the short ball, Morne Morkel watches it all along and ducks under it
0
147.1Peter Siddle to Morne Morkel
no run, full and just outside off, Morne Morkel gets across and defends it
4 minutes left. Siddle will bowl the last over of the Test match. What a cracker it has been
End of over 147, 0 runs (. . . . . . )
RSA: 240/10
Faf du Plessis - 110(380) This over: 0 runs
Morne Morkel - 0(6) This over: 0 runsNathan Lyon
(50.3 - 31 - 49 - 3)
Morne Morkel - 0(6) This over: 0 runsNathan Lyon
(50.3 - 31 - 49 - 3)
0
146.6Nathan Lyon to Faf du Plessis
no run, full and outside off, du Plessis gets across and blocks
maiden over bowled by Nathan Lyon
0
146.5Nathan Lyon to Faf du Plessis
no run, tossed up on off, du Plessis gets well forward in defence
0
146.4Nathan Lyon to Faf du Plessis
no run, flighted and on off, du Plessis gets forward and blocks