Ponting holds Aus together

A century partnership between Usman Khawaja (65) and Ricky Ponting (54 n.o.) enabled Australia to reach 142 for three at the close, 168 runs short of achieving the highest successful run chase at the Wanderers.

Khawaja was caught at slip off leg-spinner Imran Tahir one ball before bad light ended play after he and Ponting had put on 122 for the third wicket. Cummins was mainly responsible for South Africa being bowled out for 339, leaving Australia with 310 to win. Hashim Amla top-scored for South Africa with 105.

The target seemed steep when Shane Watson was bowled by Vernon Philander. The paceman then had Phil Hughes. But Khawaja and Ponting batted sensibly to blunt South Africa’s attack.

Score board

S Africa (I Innings): 266.
Australia (I innings): 296.
S Africa (II innings, O/n: 229-3):
Smith c Hughes b Lyon    36
Rudolph c Haddin b Cummins    24
Amla c Haddin b Johnson    105
Kallis c Clarke b Cummins    2
De Villiers c Clarke b Cummins    73
Prince (run out)    2
Boucher c Watson b Lyon    13
Philander c Haddin b Cummins    23
Steyn c Haddin b Cummins    41
Morkel b Cummins    0
Tahir (not out)    4
Extras (B-5, LB-2, W-7, NB-2)    16
Total (all out, 110 overs)    339.
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-75, 3-90, 4-237, 5-249, 6-260, 7-266, 8-314, 9-314.
Bowling: Johnson 30-4-101-0, Cummins 29-5-79-6, Siddle 27-10-71-0, Lyon 16-4-57-2, Hussey 5-0-14-0, Clarke 2-1-2-0, Ponting 1-0-8-0.
AUSTRALIA (II Innings):
Watson b Philander    0
Hughes c Kallis b Philander    11
Khawaja c Kallis b Tahir    65
Ponting (batting)    54
Clarke (batting)    1
Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-2, NB-5)    11     Total (for 3 wkts, 37 overs)    142
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-19, 3-141.
Bowling: Philander 8-0-31-2, Steyn 10-0-44-0, Morkel 9-1-24-0, Tahir 5-0-23-1.