Gutsy Hall takes shine off Australia's day

A battling debut half century from South Africa's Andrew Hall took the gloss off another powerful Australian performance on the first day of the second Test on Friday.

The all-rounder, coming in at number eight, top-scored with 70 as the hosts were dismissed for 239 after winning the toss, although that represented something of a recovery after they had slumped to 25 for three and 147 for seven.

By the close of play, Australia, 1-0 up in the series after their crushing victory in the first Test, had raced confidently to 46 without loss, Justin Langer unbeaten on 28 and Matthew Hayden 17.

After surviving a gunman's bullet fired from point-blank range during a Johannesburg robbery four years ago, Hall understands what it means to be given a second chance, but he needed no favours from the Australians.

Pulling and driving with bullish power, he shared an eighth- wicket partnership of 69 with spinner Paul Adams, who made 35, as South Africa escaped serious embarrassment.

The pair entertained the crowd with some powerful and frequently unorthodox strokeplay, Adams frustrating the Australians and Shane Warne in particular, at one point clubbing the leg-spinner over midwicket for six.

Hall was eventually ninth out after spending a little over three hours at the crease, facing 141 deliveries and striking 10 fours before edging Jason Gillespie to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

His dismissal followed shortly after Adams was well caught by Warne in the slips, also off Gillespie.

Warne, playing in his 100th Test match, picked up his second wicket and the last of the innings when Makhaya Ntini edged to Mark Waugh at first slip.

Earlier, the first hour of the morning was a familiar clatter of wickets as South Africa collapsed to 25 for three in the face of some accurate and penetrative fast bowling.

All three victims were caught in the slip cordon, Herschelle Gibbs edging Gillespie to Mark Waugh at second slip for 12 after making a confident start.

ANGLED ACROSS

Graeme Smith got off the mark on his debut with a single through the leg side from his first ball but the 20-year-old left-hander then pushed firmly at a Glenn McGrath delivery angled across him for Ricky Ponting to take a good low catch at third slip.

Steve Waugh's decision to turn to Brett Lee after just eight overs brought an immediate reward with the wicket of Gary Kirsten, Mark Waugh taking a routine catch as the opener, on seven, was undone by Lee's extra bounce off a good length.

In was during the morning session that a ball from Lee was clocked at 98.4 miles per hour - the fastest ever recorded delivery.

Warne then dismissed Neil McKenzie shortly before lunch. McKenzie (20) looked to be handling the leg-spinner comfortably, but then played inside the line of a straight delivery and was clean bowled.

McGrath took his wicket tally to three with two quick strikes after the interval.

Jacques Kallis had yet to add to his lunch score of 23 when he edged a superb rising delivery to Gilchrist.

Ashwell Prince (10) then fell to the same combination, Gilchrist this time diving full length to his left to take a brilliant one-handed catch.

Mark Boucher (26) and Hall added 55 for the seventh wicket, before the South African captain chased a full delivery from Lee and Gilchrist again dived full length to pouch a breath-taking catch.

Full scorecard: South Africa: 239 all out | Australia: 46/0

Mail Cricket Editor