Oz on top Down Under

Australia wrapped up a 184-run victory in the second Test against South Africa on Friday when leg spinner Stuart MacGill bowled last man Mak...

Australia wrapped up a 184-run victory in the second Test against South Africa on Friday when leg spinner Stuart MacGill bowled last man Makhaya Ntini in the first over after lunch on the final day.

Dismissed for 181 in pursuit of an improbable winning target of 366, South Africa’s Shaun Pollock put up stubborn resistance to stall Australia’s charge and the all-rounder finished unbeaten on 67 after Ntini was removed for two.

The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and any chance the tourists had of saving the Test were dashed on Thursday when they were reduced to 99-6 by the close of play.

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Mike Hussey was named man of the match for his 122 in the first innings. The Australians then bowled South Africa out for 311, giving them a 44-run lead before Hayden and Symonds combined for a brutal 124-run partnership in 66 minutes that gave their side the necessary impetus to declare at 321-7.

“What’s disappointing is that we had opportunities to win the game,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.

“Our missed opportunities cost us the game. The middle of the game could have been so different. But their batsmen made the most of their opportunities and credit to them.”

South Africa made a cautious start to their second innings and after reaching 39 without loss, the tourists lost six wickets for 43 runs to leave themselves an almost impossible task of surviving the entire final day with just four wickets intact. However, the home side’s hopes of wrapping up the win before the interval on Friday were thwarted by Pollock, who combined aggression with intelligent stroke play to reach the lunch break on 66 not out, with his side on 180-9.

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Leading the attack, Shane Warne had figures of 4-74 and McGrath 3-44 as the pair combined to take the three wickets to fall in the morning.

Ashwell Prince, who had resumed on 16, was the junior partner in a 48-run partnership with Pollock before he was adjudged to have been caught by Hayden off Warne for 26. Television replays, however, appeared to show the ball had bounced off his arm and was nowhere near his glove or bat.

Nicky Boje also did his best to ensure the game did not end early with a watchful 13 before he played back to a McGrath delivery only to chop the ball onto his stumps.

Brief scores

Australia

: 355 and 321-7 decl bt South Africa: 311 and 181 (S. Pollock 67 n.o, McGrath 3-44, Warne 4-74, Symonds 2-6)

Ponting’s three keys to victory

		• He said winning the toss was the first determinant in his team’s favour. “We bit the bullet early on day one and decided to bat on that wicket, knowing it will get a bit lower and spin as the game went along. With the team we picked we thought that would be the best way to win the game.” • The second factor was an 107-run final wicket partnership between man of the match Mike Hussey and Glenn McGrath in the first innings. • The third factor was the emergence of all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who had been under pressure after an inability to transfer his one-day form to the Test arena, which was compounded when he was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first innings. Justin Langer returns for third Test MELBOURNE: Justin Langer has been recalled to Australia’s squad for next week’s third Test against South Africa in Sydney after recovering from a hamstring injury. Langer missed the second Test after straining his hamstring in the drawn first Test in Perth. Phil Jaques, who scored two and 28, has dropped out of the squad in the only change to side that beat South Africa on Friday. “Justin is back in the squad subject to fitness,” chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement. “ Phil Jaques is held in high regard and will be on standby should he be required,” Hohns added. South Africa on the other hand will definitely go into the match without Makhaya Ntini, who suffered a knee injury in Melbourne, and may include off-spinner Johan Botha.