Australia suffered a second innings collapse but remained in a powerful position on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa setting the hosts a target of 454
Australia suffered a second innings collapse but remained in a powerful position on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
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Australia were 174 for nine at lunch, an overall lead of 420 on a pitch giving plenty of assistance to bowlers. They were finally dismissed for 207, leaving South Africa with the uphill task of chasing 454.
New cap Phil Hughes top-scored with 75. He was twice given not out despite gloving balls from Morne Morkel to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, with South Africa failing to refer the decisions to the television umpire.
The tourists reached 99 for one but lost three wickets in the space of four balls without another run added.
Another four wickets fell for the addition of 48 runs before Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle put on 27 for the ninth wicket to take the lead beyond 400.
Haddin made a successful appeal against an lbw decision given to left-arm spinner Paul Harris by umpire Billy Bowden when he had 15. He went on to hit 37 before he was caught behind off Makhaya Ntini shortly before lunch.
All-rounder Jacques Kallis took three for 22 and Makhaya Ntini three for 29.
Kallis sparked the Australian collapse when he dismissed Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey off successive deliveries. Ponting pulled a short ball to deep midwicket and Hussey made a mess of an attempted pull to sky the ball to square leg.
Two balls later Kallis at slip dived to his right to hold a sharp edge from Michael Clarke off left-arm spinner Paul Harris.
Hughes finally fell to a sharp diving catch at leg slip off Harris after facing 121 balls and hitting 11 fours and a six.
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