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South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test at Durban, , Mar 06 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
2nd Test, Durban, March 06 - 10, 2009, Australia tour of South Africa
352 & 331/5d
(T:546) 138 & 370

Australia won by 175 runs

Player Of The Match
115 & 160
phillip-hughes
New
SA 2nd Innings
Full commentary

Australia win by 175 runs and lead the series 2-0. They've completely turned the tables on South Africa after what happened in Australia late last year. Talk about revenge.

South Africa were in with a fighting chance to draw the game at the start this morning but the new ball did the trick. Both Kallis and de Villiers fell early and the result was inevitable from there on. Australia were under pressure at the start of the series to retain their No.1 ranking and they have done so in ruthless fashion, thanks to their young brigade.

South Africa will blame it all on their batting in the first innings of both Tests. Was it complacency or were their players tired? Robin Jackman made a valid point on commentary that the board should have organised a practice game for the Test side against a composite XI before the series to shrug off the rustiness. That they managed to beat India and West Indies after losing the opening Test is another story. But against Australia, you cannot afford to take things lightly and hopefully lessons will be learnt.

Stay with us for the presentation.

Smith: "We haven't been able to maintain the intensity. We've got to be honest with ourselves and take it on the chin. We'd like to bounce back as soon as possible. I went 10 years without breaking a finger and now I've broken two in three Tests. The squad has done well over a period of time."

Ponting: "We knew we had our backs to the wall. People probably overlooked how close the series was back at home. It feels different ( leading a team I have built). All of a sudden we look good again (laughs)."

Phillip Hughes is the Man of the Match "Been an exciting two weeks. There's been a lot of hype and talk about how different my batting is. All the guys in the pub at Macksville (NSW) got a free beer (laughs)."

That's it from all of us here. We'll see you at Newlands in CapeTown on March 19. On behalf of Siddhartha Talya and Raju, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Cheers!

132.2
W
Katich to Steyn, OUT

That's the series to Australia! Steyn gets a pace forward and goes for a huge heave across the line and he misses, he doesn't bother dragging it foot back and Haddin breaks the stumps

Dale Steyn st †Haddin b Katich 7 (22b 0x4 0x6 27m) SR: 31.81
132.1
Katich to Steyn, no run

gets forward and defends with soft hands

end of over 1323 runs
SA: 370/8CRR: 2.80 
Makhaya Ntini4 (3b 1x4)
Dale Steyn7 (20b)
Marcus North 20-6-36-1
Simon Katich 11-1-45-2
131.6
North to Ntini, no run

tries to withdraw the shot and the ball clips the pad

131.5
North to Ntini, no run

gets a half stride forward and he's beaten

131.4
1
North to Steyn, 1 run

Dropped He goes downtown and the ball dips a bit before reaching Johnson at mid-on, he slides forward, gets a hand to it and spills the catch on the dive

131.3
2
North to Steyn, 2 runs

strays on the pads and he tucks it behind square on the on side, pushes the second

131.2
North to Steyn, no run

thrusts forward and tucks it to leg gully

131.1
North to Steyn, no run

flighted on middle and leg, he defends on the front foot

This is the last pair at the crease

end of over 1315 runs • 1 wicket
SA: 367/8CRR: 2.80 
Makhaya Ntini4 (1b 1x4)
Dale Steyn4 (16b)
Simon Katich 11-1-45-2
Marcus North 19-6-33-1
130.6
4
Katich to Ntini, FOUR runs

and Ntini decides to have a bit of fun as he chases a wide delivery and scoops it past the umpire who's standing square on the off side

Plenty of men around the bat

130.5
W
Katich to Morkel, OUT

That's a batsman's referral Morkel defends on the front foot and there's an inside edge onto his pads, the ball just sneaks past the offstump and the ball lodges between Haddin's legs, he appeals and Asad Rauf gives him out, Morkel walks off, turns back and asks for the referral, now it was a little confusing if they were appealing for the catch or an lbw, after an eternity the decision is given so Morkel is out caught behind

Morne Morkel c †Haddin b Katich 24 (78b 4x4 0x6 101m) SR: 30.76
130.4
Katich to Morkel, no run

lunges forward and defends

130.3
Katich to Morkel, no run

gets forward and defends close to the pads

130.2
Katich to Morkel, no run

fires it on the boot and Haddin bellows an appeal but Katich isn't bothered

130.1
1
Katich to Steyn, 1 run

shuffles and works it with the turn to deep square-leg

end of over 1303 runs
SA: 362/7CRR: 2.78 
Morne Morkel24 (74b 4x4)
Dale Steyn3 (15b)
Marcus North 19-6-33-1
Simon Katich 10-1-40-1
129.6
2
North to Morkel, 2 runs

angles it on the pads and he works it away easily across the line and beats midwicket

129.5
North to Morkel, no run

lunges forward and defends solidly

129.4
North to Morkel, no run

bowls it flatter and slower and he beats the batsman with turn from the rough

129.3
1
North to Steyn, 1 run

pushes it towards mid-on but the fielder grabs the ball and misfields and that allows a run

129.2
North to Steyn, no run
129.1
North to Steyn, no run

lunges forward and defends

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