Wickets tumble on
manic second day

South Africa and Australia took turns at collapsing as 17 wickets fell on a day of mayhem on day two of the third Test.

Throughout some storming displays in recent times, Australia have managed to find the delicate balance between wonderfully positive and self-destructive batting. On the second day, they finally crossed the line between sublime and suicidal to keep a competitive Test on track for an early finish after the tourists could have batted South Africa out of the game.

It was inevitable that after so many tremendous innings of high run rates, Australia would eventually take their daring approach to too much of an extreme. That occurred in the second innings when reckless shots saw the Aussies slip to 90/5 inside 20 overs after South Africa had similarly collapsed. Occasionally, it would be beneficial to the Australians if they were reminded a Test match is allowed to comprise more than three days.

17 wickets on a sporting pitch that nevertheless appeared good for batting.quality bowling or bad batting? On day two, it was distinctly more of the latter as Shane Warne took wickets with full tosses and Australian batsmen departed to attacking shots after garnering seemingly match-winning lead of 148. Sometimes, overly attacking batting is actually the easy option and not the heroic one, as too many elected for extravagance over graft in a display which perhaps indicated waning concentration.

Earlier, the difference catching can make was emphasised as South Africa showed little of the second innings character from Cape Town. Nightwatchman Paul Adams fell to a brilliant catch by Hayden in the gully eight overs in, playing Lee square with an angled bat only for Hayden to intercept with his left hand after the ball had passed him.

Graham Smith departed to an over-aggressive shot for just 1 as Australia took control of the first session. Flashing square at a wide one from McGrath, Smith was caught behind by Gilchrist in front of first slip as South Africa were reduced to 75/3.

Herschelle Gibbs had begun in cracking form, playing several rasping off-side drives from the back foot. Clearly an important wicket, he progressed to 51 before succumbing to Gillespie in his first over of the day, edging behind driving at a good length delivery.

Warne enhanced Australia's position further when he caught and bowled Kallis for 16 with the score at 109/4. Looking to flick a full ball to mid wicket, Kallis got a leading edge back to the bowler.

Considering he had to toil through an extraordinary 70 overs to earn six wickets in the second innings of the second Test, the ease with which Warne was gifted figures of 4/33 only served to emphasise the vicissitudes of Test cricket. In Warne's first over after lunch, Ashwell Prince advanced premeditatedly, got a full toss, was cramped, and mishit a pull to mid on. He could have dealt with it better had he stayed, but Warne's fortunes had changed.

In the same over, Mark Boucher also received a full toss, which he lobbed back to Warne off a leading edge. However, for a full toss it was quite an awkward delivery, as it drifted viciously from middle to wide outside leg with Boucher induced into following it.

With Gillespie bowling an accurate line to complement Warne, 8 runs were scored in 7 overs, as McKenzie and Hall began rebuilding until the return of Lee. Lee was used as Australia's intimidatory weapon, bowling lots of short-pitched deliveries as fast as possible, which recently has been spectacular but generally ineffective, at least for Lee.

This innings was one of the exceptions as Neil McKenzie, who worked hard for his 25, fell to an even better catch than Hayden's. Surely, there is no difference in catching ability between Australia and South Africa. The reason Australia have held the majority of their difficult chances whereas South Africa have not can only be attributed to confidence.

To a short and wide ball, McKenzie carved a full-blooded cut over point. Damien Martyn leapt, but was moving in the opposite direction to the flight of the ball as it curved away to his left in the air. With left arm fully extended, Martyn reached back away from the direction he was travelling, mid-air, to snare a freakish grab. For an overhead catch, it was as good as it gets.

Warne collected his fourth wicket when Ntini lofted a catch down the throat of long on and Lee bagged his fourth having Terbrugge caught behind as South Africa were dismissed for 167 in the 56th over.

Justin Langer appeared keen to ensure he finished the series with a score, playing a bit safer than in his 7-ball first innings escapade. It was run machine Matthew Hayden who departed first, out for a duck loosely driving a wide half-volley from Terbrugge in the air to cover. With scores of 28 and 0, Hayden appears to have finally "lost form." If anything, he might be mentally worn down after so much time at the crease.

Langer, a little uncomfortable at the crease, was next to go, caught behind driving at a full ball from Terbrugge that moved away slightly off the seam. With Pollock-like qualities, Terbrugge might be the seam bowler South Africa has been searching for.

The early wickets appeared little more than a minor setback when Ponting flourished after tea, Ntini and Hall feeding his strengths by bowling short or wide. Even Mark Waugh, who was predictably bounced, enjoyed himself by pulling Ntini for six as runs came in a flood.

Australia scorched to 77/2 in 14 overs before Ponting's downfall led to a succession of wickets. He was caught at fine leg for 34 top-edging a hook off Ntini, turning his head away. That brought both Waughs together, with Steve also bounced by Ntini, over and around the wicket, as South Africa revealed their strategy to the pressured twins.

Eventually Boucher turned to the more likely combination of Adams and Kallis and it brought immediate dividends. In Kallis' first over, Mark Waugh was bowled off his pads for 30, playing across the line to a regulation delivery. In the same over, Kallis had the Aussies reeling when Martyn was adjudged caught behind attempting to hook; Australia 90/5 after 19 overs. It was a dubious decision and capped a suddenly poor last two Tests with the bat for Martyn. Half out in less than 20 overs when Australia had days to bat was crazy.

Steve Waugh, undoubtedly determined, found himself in circumstances in which he has thrived - the opposition on top with wickets falling around him. Though thoroughly beaten once by Adams, Waugh generally has not played him particularly badly and with Gilchrist he toughed it out.

Gilchrist genuinely failed for the first time in the series when he received a superb delivery from Kallis on 14. Kallis, bowling as well as he had at any point against Australia, got one to angle in and seam away from around the wicket, catching Gilchrist by surprise and taking the edge to Boucher.

Warne was caught at silly point off Adams for 13, pushing off bat and pad to McKenzie immediately after he had been dropped in identical fashion. The resolute Gillespie was promoted to No. 9 ahead of Lee and held out with Waugh in the gloom for eight overs before being sharply taken at slip. Reaching to cut a wide ball from Adams, Gillespie got a late edge and the revived Kallis did superbly to react by diving to his right.

Steve Waugh pushed the lead above 300 before the batsmen were offered the light three overs early. Australia remain in the favoured position but there should be some disappointed batsmen from both sides.

Scorecard: Australia 2nd innings
Images of day 2