Boucher and Nel to the rescue

2006-04-02 17:55

Johannesburg - A determined partnership of 56 by Mark Boucher and tail-ender Andre Nel saw South Africa through to a useful lead of 283 on the third day of the third Test against Australia at the Wanderers on Sunday.

South Africa were 250 for eight when bad light stopped play 13 minutes early.

The home side took just 20 minutes in the morning to wrap up the Australian innings for 270 - a deficit of 33 runs. The innings ended when Brett Lee was caught by Nicky Boje off Makhaya Ntini for 64, giving Ntini his sixth wicket, and his best figures - six for 100 - against Australia.

Earlier, there had been some controversy when Lee stood his ground when he was caught by Boeta Dippenaar with his score on 45. The umpires conferred, and ruled him not out, although television replays showed that Dippenaar had caught it cleanly.

By lunchtime, South Africa had 83 for two, and had been scoring at more than four runs an over.

Australia hit back hard in the afternoon session, taking four wickets for the addition of 97 runs. Herschelle Gibbs was first to go, about half an hour after he had reached his 21st Test half century.

He was caught by Damien Martyn off Shane Warne for 50. Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis put on 20 runs for the fourth wicket before Prince was caught by Andrew Symonds off Warne, although the ball appeared to have come off his pad. He made nine runs.

Took his fourth wicket

Next to go was Kallis, who was judged leg before wicket to Stuart Clark for a patient 27 off 82 deliveries, and two overs later, Clark took his fourth wicket of the innings when he had Jacques Rudolph caught behind by Adam Gilchrist without scoring.

Australian bowler Michael Kasprowicz joined teammate Justin Langer on the injury list - he was taken to hospital at lunch for an injection for lower back pain, but the lack of two of their teammates did not appear to be hindering the visitors, who once again put the home side under pressure when it counted.

Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher shared a seventh wicket partnership of 46 off 70 balls before Pollock, who had been looking very good, miscued a delivery from Brett Lee and was caught by Adam Gilchrist for 40. Boje was out soon after, caught by Andrew Symonds off Warne for four.

But Boucher and Nel gave the crowd of about 12 000 something to cheer about, with their half century partnership coming up in 53 minutes off 66 balls.

Boucher reached his 21st half century, and was not out on 55, while Nel was not out on 18 - his highest Test score.

- SAPA