Proteas resist Aussie after Hussey heroics

MELBOURNE (Australia)—South Africa dug in for a war of attrition after Mike Hussey revived Australia’s chances with a dynamic rearguard century on the second day of the second cricket Test here.
The South Africans lost both openers, skipper Graeme Smith (22) and AB De Villiers (61), after Australia ended their first innings on 355, bolstered by a fighting 122 from number five Hussey in a record last-wicket stand on Tuesday.
Australia were staring at a meagre innings total after going into the second day on 239 for eight, but left-hander Hussey combined in a 107-run 10th wicket partnership with Glenn McGrath to frustrate the Proteas.
Hussey turned things around for Australia with his third century in an impressive debut year in Test cricket. He dominated the partnership with McGrath, who remained 11 not out after two defiant hours at the crease.
“I must admit when Glenn came to the crease and I was on 27 I didn’t think I would score a hundred,” Hussey said. “But it was a great partnership and it put us into a good position.
“It was a cat and mouse game trying to frustrate them for as long as possible and the big thing was showing faith in your batting partner. I was lucky things went my way today”.
Hussey was finally bowled by Makhaya Ntini in the 120th over of the innings, ending his four-hour resistance which featured 14 boundaries and four sixes.
Once again the South Africans were their own worst enemies, with Jacques Kallis fumbling a high chance at second slip off Shaun Pollock when Hussey was on 27.
That followed Andre Nel’s expensive mistake when Ricky Ponting was dropped on 17 on the way to his 117 on Monday. The South Africans have dropped 10 catches so far in the series.
At stumps the tourists had grafted their way to 169 for two with Herschelle Gibbs perserving with an unbeaten 54 and Jacques Kallis on 17, 186 runs in arrears.
“It’s evenly poised at the moment,” South African coach Mickey Arthur said. “We had a good two sessions after lunch and the first session tomorrow is going to be crucial.
“It was huge morale-sapping (to drop Hussey) but the guys came back, showed great character and we took a really positive frame of mind into the batting and the guys came back beautifully after the morning session”.
It was only the fourth time in Tests that Australia had achieved a century 10th wicket partnership. McGrath featured in the previous one with Jason Gillespie, a 114-run stand against New Zealand in Brisbane last season.
It was a much improved day for the Australians, who clawed their way back into the game after a spectacular 7-85 collapse late on day one.
Hussey, starting the day on 23, proved a major irritant to the Proteas. His innings evoked memories of his unbeaten 133 against the West Indies in the third Adelaide Test last month, when he was on 35 with two wickets left in the Australian first innings.
He seized the momentum from the South Africans, who had finished the opening day on top and had salvaged a draw against the odds in last week’s opening Perth Test.
When Stuart MacGill was out for four in Tuesday’s third over, Hussey was only on 27, yet he found a willing partner in McGrath to bring up three figures.
Hussey had the MCG crowd roaring with two successive sixes off Nel over wide long-off and two more off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.
In reply the South Africans, crawling along at 2.8 runs at over, stonewalled the Australian attack, often leaving deliveries and forsaking risky shots. Brett Lee trapped Smith leg before wicket for 22 with one that pitched in line with the stumps and hit him on the back pad.
McGrath captured only his second wicket of the series when he had De Villiers lbw with one that jagged back from outside off-stump. The Australian team wore black armbands and were joined in a minute’s reflection by the South African team following the death of influential cricket figure and media magnate Kerry Packer.—Agencies