South Africa took nine wickets after tea to level their three match series against Australia on the fourth day of the second Test at St George’s Park on Sunday.Set to make 448 to win, Australia were bowled out for 216 after South Africa claimed the extra half hour with Australia seven down at the scheduled close.
South Africa took four top order wickets for four runs shortly after tea to swing the game in their favour. Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four of the wickets that fell after tea to finish with four for 55.
Chris Rogers and David Warner put on 126 for the first wicket, scoring at more than four runs an over and Rogers then fought a lone battle before being ninth man out, run out for 107. Part-time off-spinner JP Duminy made the breakthrough when he trapped Warner leg before wicket for a sparkling 66, made off 73 balls.
The scoring rate slowed but Australia still looked comfortable at 141 for one at tea.Alex Doolan struggled for more than an hour, scoring only five runs off 43 balls before he was caught at first slip off Morne Morkel.
Shaun Marsh, who made 148 and 44 in the first Test in Centurion, was out first ball, trapped in front by a full delivery from Vernon Philander. It completed a “pair” for the left-hander, who faced only two balls in the first innings.
Steyn claimed the key wicket of Australian captain Michael Clarke, who edged a catch low to second slip, where Faf du Plessis held a good catch, tumbling to his right. Steyn, who was gaining reverse swing, had Steve Smith leg before with a full delivery which swung in to the right-hander.
Ten runs later Steyn’s fast reverse swing sent Brad Haddin’s middle stump flying. Mitchell Johnson stayed long enough to see Rogers to his century but became a fourth lbw victim. Philander’s appeal was turned down by umpire Richard Illingworth but South Africa sought a review which showed the ball was hitting leg stump.
Rogers, who scored only ten runs in his first three innings of the series, looked in good touch from the start of his innings, taking advantage of some over-pitched deliveries early on and almost keeping pace with Warner during what was easily the most productive opening partnership by either side during the series.
Brief Scores
South Africa: 423 and 270/5 dec (Hashim Amla 127 no; Mitchell Johnson 2/51, Peter Siddle 2/89) beat Australia: 246 and 216 (Chris Rogers 107, David Warner 66; Dale Steyn 4/55, Vernon Philanderer 2/39) by 231 runs.