The highest chase in Johannesburg and Philander's feat

Stats highlights from an absolutely riveting day of Test cricket at the Wanderers

21-Nov-2011

Vernon Philander took 5 for 70, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Johannesburg, 5th day, November 21, 2011

Australia's score of 310 is the highest in a successful chase at the Wanderers, and the fourth-highest in South Africa. Australia have been the winning team on three of those four occasions.

Ricky Ponting's 62 is his highest Test score in more than a year. During this period, he has averaged 20.46 in 16 innings, with only two fifties. Before this knock, he had gone 13 innings without a half-century.

Similarly, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson saved their best for this key day as well. Haddin played 106 balls for his 55 - it was the first time he'd faced more than 100 deliveries in a Test innings in 17 innings, extending over almost a year. Johnson had a poor game with the ball, but as a batsman he made significant contributions in both innings, remaining unbeaten on 38 and 40. His match aggregate of 78 runs was his highest since March 2009, when he'd scored 35 and 123 not out in Cape Town. This was his 26th Test since that game.

For South Africa, Vernon Philander was the undoubted star of the series. He finished with 5 for 70 in the second innings, and thus has two five-fors in his first two Tests. The last two bowlers to achieve this were Fidel Edwards and Richard Johnson, both in 2003. Before that, it was Narendra Hirwani way back in 1988. Philander is also the fourth South African to achieve this. The others - Peter Heine, Lindsay Tuckett and Norman Gordon - all achieved it before 1956.

The result will hurt South Africa's aspirations to take the top spot in the ICC Test rankings. The defeat pushes South Africa down to 115 points, well behind England's 125. Had South Africa won, they'd have moved up to second place with 120. Had they then beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 in the home series to follow, they'd have moved to No.1 with 126 points. Even if they achieve that margin against Sri Lanka now, they'll only have 119 points.

With inputs from Travis Basevi.

Ricky Ponting Mitchell Johnson Brad Haddin Vernon Philander Australia South Africa South Africa vs Australia Australia tour of South Africa

S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. Follow him on Twitter