Hayden Century, Faltering Proteas

South Africa's quest to chase 366 to win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne took a hit on Day Four, as a string of wickets in the final session of the day from Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds put the tourists on their back foot while putting Australia in a commanding position to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Starting on 2 for 110 in their second innings after limiting the tourists to 311 all out in their first innings, Australia was led by a strong charge by Matthew Hayden and Brad Hodge before the latter, celebrating his 31st birthday on the day, was dismissed for 24 after being unfortunately judged to be caught out by umpire Steve Bucknor.

Hodge’s wicket was followed by first innings centurion Michael Hussey (31) shortly after lunch, which brought in man-of-the-hour Andrew Symonds (72), who along with centurion Hayden (137, 25th career Test century) stabilized Australia’s drive.

However, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (3 for 58, 11 overs) would have none of it, as he claimed the wickets of both Symonds and Hayden before bowling Adam Gilchrist for a duck in a span of four balls, which spurred Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting to declare the hosts’ innings 45 minutes before Tea on 321 for seven, which allowed Ponting’s opposite Graeme Smith (25) and AB de Villiers (8) to begin South Africa’s quest to chase a steep 366 for victory.

The final session began conservatively for the South Africans as they pursued a manageable target, but the chase soon stalled when de Villiers was stumped by Gilchrist while moving forward to defend a Warne delivery.

Glenn McGrath joined the destruction, bowling to Gilchrist to have Smith caught behind. Herschelle Gibbs (9) opened aggressively to try to stem the tide, smacking two fours in his first over at the crease before he was clean-bowled by Warne for the latter’s second scalp of the innings.

Symonds, coming off his career-highest Test score, put on his metaphorical hard hat and removed both Jacques Kallis (9) and Rudolph (4) to stop the South African drive dead in the water. Warne added the scalp of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (5) to make the score 82 for 6, leaving the visitors 284 runs off target with four wickets remaining.

Ashwell Prince (16*) and Shaun Pollock (13*) saw out the tourists to Stumps adding only 17 more runs to the South African total (99 for 6), leaving the tourists with a formidable mountain to climb in order to avoid defeat.

South Africa’s bowling corps also took a broadside hit with the loss of paceman Makhaya Ntini, who suffered a knee injury. While he will bat in this innings, he has been ruled out of the third and final Test in Sydney next week.

Play resumes tomorrow morning at 10:30am (AEDT).

Full scorecard available here.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!