South Africa battle back in Cape Town Test

Gary Kirsten led the way with a fighting half-century as South Africa put themselves back in with a fighting chance of winning the second Test against Australia on Sunday.

South Africa reached 307 for four wickets in their second innings at the close of the third day, a lead of 164, with Neil McKenzie unbeaten on 28 and Ashwell Prince five not out.

Kirsten, Jacques Kallis and 20-year-old debutant Graeme Smith all fell frustratingly short of three figures while Shane Warne's ability to gain prodigious turn rescued Australia on an otherwise mediocre day for the tourists.

Warne picked up three wickets in a sustained spell of quality leg spin bowling as the seamers toiled in temperatures that reached close to 40 degrees Celsius at Newlands.

Not for the first time, Kirsten was the linchpin of the South African innings, falling 13 runs short of what would have been his fourteenth Test century when Brett Lee trapped him lbw for 87 off 182 balls.

Most of his runs came with trademark cuts and drives although he twice advanced down the wicket to loft Warne over mid on.

Kirsten added 99 runs with Smith for the second wicket, the youngster growing in confidence after lunch when he took 11 runs off the first over bowled by Warne and then cracked Glenn McGrath through point for four.

Smith was somewhat unfortunate to be out for 68, umpire Steve Bucknor deciding he had edged a Warne delivery through to Adam Gilchrist, but replays suggested the ball struck pad rather than bat. Smith's runs came from 147 deliveries and included nine boundaries.

Jacques Kallis wasted no time in taking the attack to the Australians, reaching a half-century in just 55 balls and looking in imperious form.

WRONG LINE
He was advancing to what appeared to be a certain century when he played down the wrong line to a Warne delivery which went straight on and departed leg before for 73 from 96 balls with 12 fours.

Warne, playing in his 100th Test, continued to bowl right through to the close, completing a remarkable 42 of the 100 overs bowled in an extended day after the bad light which curtailed play on Saturday. McKenzie and Prince both survived, but not with the greatest of conviction.

Earlier, Australian captain Steve Waugh turned to Warne for the first over of the day and the bowler responded with a probing spell on a pitch that was already offering prodigious turn early on the third morning.

Warne picked up the one wicket of the morning session with the score on 84, Herschelle Gibbs undoing some early good fortune when on 39 he prodded forward and presented Ricky Ponting with a routine bat/pad chance at silly point.

Full scorecard: South Africa: 239 | Australia: 382 | South Africa 2nd inns

Mail Cricket Editor