STEYN-GUNNED: South Africa beat Aussies in second Test

Pacer Dale Steyn picks 4 wickets for 55 runs as South Africa won the second Test by 231 runs to level their three-Test series against Australia at 1-1 yesterday

Port Elizabeth: South Africa won the second Test by 231 runs to level their three-Test series against Australia at 1-1 yesterday.


Off you go, Brad boy! SA pacer Dale Steyn celebrates the wicket of Australia's Brad Haddin in Port Elizabeth yesterday. Pic/AFP

Hashim Amla pushed on from 93 overnight to 127 not out before the Proteas declared on 270 for five to set Australia a target of 448.

Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner put on 126 but remarkably, all 10 wickets then fell for 90 as South Africa avoided a nervous final day, with heavy rain forecast in Port Elizabeth.

Amla's century came up when he guided Ryan Harris behind point for four, his 14th boundary from 139 balls.

His partnership with Test debutant Quinten de Kock reached 64 before the latter, on 34, was caught by Michael Clarke off Nathan Lyon.

Amla and JP Duminy hit boundaries in the same Peter Siddle over and after Duminy (18no) added another in the paceman's next over, Graeme Smith called his players in.

Rogers and Warner, far from merely surviving the 33 minutes before lunch, scored at virtually four an over to reach 33 without loss.

Warner took the tourists to 50 with four successive fours off Morne Morkel but had a let-off when Duminy was unable to hold a return catch after colliding with non-striker Rogers.

Warner needed only 61 balls to advance to 50, doing so with a three off Steyn aided by an overthrow and having hit six fours and a six.

Century stand
The century partnership came up from the first ball of the next over, the 25th and Rogers brought up his half-century with a boundary off Morkel, who responded by ripping a ball past his edge later in the over.

With the score at 126 without loss, Proteas wicketkeeper AB de Villiers was heard on the stump microphone shouting "150 for four here boys" - and it was to prove prophetic.

Duminy immediately returned for a second spell and trapped Warner lbw for 66 with his second ball, the batsman unsuccessful with a review.

Australia were 141 for one at tea but Alex Doolan's painstaking innings of five was finally ended after 43 balls when he edged Morkel to Graeme Smith at first slip.

Vernon Philander added the scalp of Shaun Marsh, who followed his first-Test century with a pair, and Steyn ripped out Clarke and Steve Smith in successive balls, the Australian captain edging low to Faf du Plessis in the slips before his teammate was pinned lbw.

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