JOIN US A fired-up Australian attack skittled South Africa's top order late on the fourth day to march to the verge of victory in the second Test on Sunday.
Set a mammoth target of 430 for victory, the tourists’ chase began disastrously, captain Graeme Smith out for a duck off the sixth ball of the innings and three more wickets tumbling quickly in the afternoon heat at Adelaide Oval.
Wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis dug in for more than an hour and a half, but South Africa staggered to 77-4 at the close, 353 runs adrift of their target.
De Villiers was on 12 and Du Plessis on 19, with injured Jacques Kallis the last specialist batsman in the Proteas’ dressing room to come.
South Africa assistant coach Russell Domingo conceded a draw was the best they could hope for.
South Africa's hopes may once again rest on all-rounder Kallis, who battled a hamstring strain to score a half-century in the first innings and help the tourists avoid the follow-on.
Score board
Australia(I Innings): 550
South Africa (I Innings): 388
Australia (II Innings, O/n 111/5):
Clarke lbw Steyn 38
Hussey c Steyn b Morkel 54
Wade c De Villiers b Morkel 18
Pattinson (not out) 29
Hilfenhaus (not out) 18
Extras (B-4 LB-10, NB-9) 23
Total (8 wkts decl, 70 overs) 267
Fall of wickets: 6-173, 7-206, 8-220.
Bowling: Steyn 17-5-50-2, Morkel 19-4-50-3, Kleinveldt 19-2-65-3, Tahir 14-1-80-0, Du Plessis 1-0-8-0.
South Africa (II Innings):
Smith c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 0
Petersen b Siddle 24
Amla c Clarke b Lyon 17
Rudolph c Cowan b Lyon 3
De Villiers (batting) 12
Du Plessis (batting) 19
Extras (B-1, NB-1) 2
Total (for 4 wkts, 50 overs) 77
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-36, 3-45, 4-45.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 12-6-23-1, Siddle 11-5-23-1, Clarke 5-2-4-0, Lyon 15-7-15-2, Warner 3-0-10-0, Quiney 3-2-1-1, Ponting 1-1-0-0.