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Warne stars in Australia series triumph
CAPE TOWN: Australia won the second test against South Africa by four wickets on Tuesday to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three match series. The series win at Newlands means Australia retains the World Test Championship.
Ricky Ponting hit a six to win the match and take himself to a century. With three runs needed, Ponting, on 94, swung a short ball from left-arm spinner Paul Adams over the backward square leg to hoist his tenth Test century.
Ponting's spectacular finish capt a tense afternoon in which Adams struck twice within seven balls as the World Champions stumbled within sight of the triumph.
March 12, 2002 - 1055 GMT
Hayden powers Australia towards second Test victory
CAPE TOWN: Matthew Hayden fell four runs short of his century as Australia closed in on victory on day five of the second Test against South Africa on Tuesday.
At lunch Australia were 251 for three, requiring another 80 runs for victory, with Ricky Ponting 71 not out. Australia won the first Test by an innings and 360 runs.
South Africa gave themselves a glimmer of hope with the wicket of Mark Waugh on the stroke of lunch. Waugh edged Makhaya Ntini to Mark Boucher behind the stumps to depart for 16.
Resuming at 50 not out, Hayden achieved his first objective within three overs, hitting the awkward left arm spin of Paul Adams out of the attack with 18 runs off his first two overs, including a six over mid-on.
South Africa have struggled to deal with Hayden throughout the southern summer and he continued to blaze the ball to the boundary, pulling and driving with great power.
When he fell it was to a sucker punch. Jacques Kallis tempted him several times with deliveries aimed wide of off stump and when he chased the widest of them all, Hayden tickled it to Boucher. His 96 came off 141 balls and
included 15 fours as well as the six.
He has now scored 710 runs in his last five Tests against South Africa at average of 101.4. Ponting was also in superb form, reaching his fifty with three successive boundaries off Dewald Pretorius, the third punched off his toes to the midwicket fence.
Mark Waugh made a nervous start, nicking his first delivery from Kallis within an inch of his leg stump.
DAY
FOUR
March 11, 2002 - 1630 GMT
Australia poised for second Test victory bid
CAPE TOWN: Half-centuries from openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden took Australia to within 200 runs of victory in the second Test against South Africa on Monday.
The tourists were 131 for one wicket at the close of the fourth day at Newlands, still requiring another 200 runs after being set 331 to win.
At the crease were Hayden on 50 and Ricky Ponting on 17. Earlier, Neil McKenzie was run out one run short of his third Test century and leg-spinner Shane Warne took six second innings in his 100th Test as South Africa were bowled out for 473.
Australia began their victory quest in the now customary blaze of boundaries, Langer reaching his 50 off just 58 deliveries. Shortly afterwards he became the first Test victim for debutant Dewald Pretorius, bottom edging on to his stumps as he attempted to force the ball away through the off-side to depart for 58.
Warne had completed a remarkable 70 overs in the South African second innings, finishing with six for 161 when he had Pretorius caught by Mark Waugh at slip for a duck.
It was the most overs the leg spinner has ever bowled in an innings in his long Test career, surpassing the 55 he bowled against South Africa in Durban in 1993-94. McKenzie escaped him however, the South African run out on
99 when he pushed Brett Lee into the covers and set out for a single.
Damien Martyn dived to his left and brilliantly threw down the stumps at the bowlers end to catch McKenzie a couple of inches short of his ground.
McKenzie's 99 came in a little over five hours from 226 balls and included 14 fours, most either pulled or driven with wonderfully crisp timing.
Mark Boucher and Andrew Hall had already departed by the time McKenzie was dismissed, Boucher's belligerent 37 ending when he was trapped on the back foot lbw by Jason Gillespie and Hall run out for a duck after some athletic
work by Lee. Makhaya Ntini was Warne's fifth victim, caught in the deep slogging, and Paul Adams finished 23 not out, which included sixes off both Warne and Mark Waugh.
For the second day in succession, Australian captain Steve Waugh turned to Warne for the first over of the day, and after working through 42 overs on day three, the leg spinner again turned in a sterling performance.
With the pitch continuing to offer prodigious turn, Warne was a constant threat. So deceptive was he at times that twice Warne beat the bat and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to concede four byes, crucial runs for the South Africans in the context of the game.
Warne struck with the only wicket of the morning, Ashwell Prince pushing forward on 20, the ball flying off his glove towards silly point where Ponting took an excellent one-handed catch.
March 11, 2002 - 1320 GMT
McKenzie run out for 99 as Warne takes six
CAPE TOWN: Neil McKenzie was run out one run short of his third Test century and leg-spinner Shane Warne took six wickets in his 100th Test as South Africa set Australia 331 to win the second Test on Monday.
South Africa were dismissed for 473 in their second innings on the stroke of tea on the fourth day, Warne completing an astonishing 70 overs and finishing with six for 161 when he had last man Dewald Pretorius caught at first slip for a duck. It was the most overs the leg spinner has bowled in an innings in his 100 Test matches, surpassing the 55 against South Africa in Durban in 1993-94. McKenzie suffered the agony of being out for 99 when he pushed Brett Lee into the covers and set off for a single.
Damien Martyn dived to his left and threw down the stumps at the bowler's end to catch McKenzie just short of his ground. McKenzie's 99 came in a little over five hours from 226 balls and included 14 fours, most either pulled or driven with crisp timing.
For the second day in succession, Australian captain Steve Waugh turned to Warne for the first over of the day and after working through 42 overs on day three, the leg spinner again turned into a sterling performance.
Warne struck with the only wicket of the morning, Ashwell Prince pushing forward on 20, the ball flying off his glove towards silly point where Ricky Ponting took an excellent one-handed catch. With the pitch continuing to offer prodigious turn, Warne was a constant threat.
Mark Boucher scored a belligerent 37 before he was trapped on the back foot lbw by Jason Gillespie and Andrew Hall was run out for a duck after athletic work by Lee.
Makhaya Ntini was Warne's fifth victim, caught in the deep for 11 after slogging. Paul Adams finished 23 not out which included sixes off both Warne and Mark Waugh.
March 11, 2002 - 1055 GMT
McKenzie stretches South Africa lead
CAPE TOWN: Neil McKenzie moved to within sight of his third Test century as South Africa built a sizeable lead against Australia on the fourth day of the second Test on Monday.
Resuming on 307 for four overnight, South Africa were 407 for five wickets in their second innings at lunch -- a lead of 264.
McKenzie was 84 not out and captain Mark Boucher was on 21. McKenzie refused to play anything pitched into the rough outside leg stump by Shane Warne, capitalising instead on anything loose.
He also dealt confidently with the quicks, pulling and cutting with great authority. His undefeated 84 came off 173 balls and included 13 fours.
For the second day in succession, Australian captain Steve Waugh turned to Warne for the first over of the day, and after working through 42 overs on day three, the leg spinner again turned into a sterling performance.
He took the only wicket of the morning when the ball flew off the glove of Ashwell Prince (20) towards silly point where Ricky Ponting took an excellent one-handed catch.
Shortly before lunch, Warne bowled his 56th over, the most he has ever completed in a Test match innings since the 55 he bowled against South Africa in Durban in 1993-94.
DAY
THREE
March 10, 2002 - 1655 GMT
South Africa fight back despite Warne
CAPE TOWN: South Africa produced a solid batting performance but leg-spinner Shane Warne took three crucial wickets to give Australia a winning chance on the third day of the second Test at Newlands Sunday.
Gary Kirsten, newcomer Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis made half-centuries as South Africa scored 307 for four at close of play, an overall lead of 164 after trailing by 143 runs on the first innings.
But Warne bowled 42 overs on a hot, cloudless day and took three for 100 to prevent the South Africans from wresting control from the tourists.
With the fast bowlers getting no help from a good batting pitch, Australian captain Steve Waugh called for a special effort from his star spin bowler, playing in his 100th Test.
Warne bowled non-stop for more than two hours at the start of the day. He bowled four spells during the day, including being called back into the attack when the second new ball was only five overs old.
Despite Warne's efforts, it was the most consistent batting performance by South Africa in five Tests against Australia this summer, giving the home side a chance of forcing a win after suffering four successive defeats
against the world champions.
South Africa need only to share the current three-match series, which Australia lead 1-0, to take the world title away from Australia.
Kirsten, South Africa's most-capped player and leading Test run-scorer, made 87 and shared two valuable partnerships, 84 for the first wicket with Herschelle Gibbs and 99 for the second with fellow left-hander Smith.
The tall, powerfully-built Smith, 21, owed his place to the withdrawal of experienced batsman Daryll Cullinan after a contract dispute.
Smith failed in the first innings when he was caught at third slip off Glenn McGrath for three. He had a testing time when he came to the crease Sunday, playing out two successive maidens from Warne before turning the
eg-spinner to leg for two to score his first runs.
Smith settled down to play positively, reaching a 95-ball fifty when he took 10 runs off an over from off-spinner Mark Waugh. Smith became tied down while he played the minor role in a 71-run third wicket stand with
Kallis, taking another 52 balls to advance his score to 68 before he was unlucky to be given out caught behind off Warne.
It was the last over before the second new ball was due. The ball spun in to Smith and deflected off his pad before it was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, seemingly having missed the inside edge of the bat. Smith hit nine boundaries in his 147-ball innings.
Warne, who made the first breakthrough of the day when he had Gibbs caught at silly mid-off for 39, added the key wicket of Kallis, who was in top form as he stroked 73 off 96 balls with 12 fours.
Kallis was beaten and trapped lbw by a ball which hurried straight through as the batsman pushed forward. Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs put on 84 for the first wicket.
It was their first substantial opening stand since they scored 87 in Adelaide. They had not gone beyond 37 in eight subsequent partnerships. Gibbs stroked seven fours in his 39, made off 90 balls.
Kirsten was eventually trapped lbw by Brett Lee when he went back on his stumps and was struck on the back pad. He had faced 182 balls and hit 11 fours.
March 10, 2002 - 1325 GMT
South Africa battle back in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN: Australia's Brett Lee ended the dogged resistance of opener Gary Kirsten as South Africa moved into an overall lead on day three of the second test at Newlands on Sunday.
At tea, South Africa were 220 for two in their second innings, ahead by 77, with debutant Graeme Smith 63 not out and Jacques Kallis exuding confidence on 27.
Paceman Lee struck with Kirsten in sight of what would have been his 14th test century, trapping the left-hander lbw on the back foot with a fast,straight delivery. Kirsten made 87 from 182 balls and struck 11 boundaries, most of them in a partnership of 99 for the second wicket with the 20-year-old Smith.
Kirsten plundered most of his runs with his trademark cuts and drives, although he was also happy to use his feet to leg-spinner Shane Warne, twice advancing down the wicket to loft him over the in-field.
Smith, growing in confidence, took 11 runs off the first over after lunch bowled by Warne, and then majestically cut Glenn McGrath to the point boundary in the next over.
The youngster had posted South Africa's hundred before lunch with his first boundary in test cricket, clipping Jason Gillespie to the midwicket ropes.
He also survived a confident appeal for leg before from Warne on 12, umpire Rudi Koertzen giving him the benefit of what could only have been minimal doubt.
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 offering prodigious turn. Warne picked up the one wicket of the morning session when
Herschelle Gibbs, who had enjoyed some earlier good fortune, presented Ricky Ponting with a routine chance in a close-catching position and was out for 39.
Gibbs had seen an edge in McGrath's first over fly to the third man boundary via the finger tips of Ponting at third slip and survived a confident appeal for lbw by
Warne.
March 10, 2002 - 1115 GMT
Kirsten leads SA fightback
CAPE TOWN: Opener Gary Kirsten provided the linchpin of a spirited South African batting performance on the third morning of the second test against Australia on Sunday.
Resuming on their overnight score of seven without loss, South Africa reached lunch at 111 for one in their second innings, trailing by just 32 runs.
Kirsten was 56 not out and Graeme Smith on 13.The left-handed Kirsten reached his 26th test half-century with
customary circumspection, occasionally loosening the shackles to work the ball to the boundary.
He was particularly comfortable against Shane Warne, even coming down the wicket to loft the leg-spinner over mid on for four. By lunch, he had faced 118 balls and struck six fours.
Australia captain Steve Waugh turned to Warne for the first over of the day and the bowler responded with a probing spell on a pitch already offering prodigious turn. Warne picked up the one wicket of the morning session.
With the score on 84, Herschelle Gibbs wasted some earlier good fortune when he prodded forward and was caught by Ricky Ponting close in for 39.
Debutant Smith posted the South African hundred with his first boundary in test cricket, clipping Jason Gillespie to the midwicket ropes.
He then survived a confident appeal for leg before from Warne on 12, umpire Rudi Koertzen giving him the benefit of what could only have been minimal doubt.
Earlier Gibbs had led a charmed life with an edge in Glenn McGrath's first over flying to the third man boundary via the finger tips of Ponting at third slip.
Leg-spinner Warne was disappointed to see a confident appeal for leg before against Gibbs turned down by umpire Steve Bucknor.
Gibbs then revealed something of his true talent with three consecutive boundaries off paceman Brett Lee, although only after another edge had fallen just short of Mark Waugh at second slip.
First Gibbs sank to his knee to drive Lee through cover, then attempted to repeat the shot and only narrowly avoided Matthew Hayden in the gully before finally producing a sumptuous off-drive when Lee overpitched.
DAY
TWO
March 09, 2002 - 1330 GMT
Gilchrist, Warne stop SA fightback
CAPE TOWN: Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne shared an aggressive partnership to halt a South African fightback on the second day of the second Test at Newlands Saturday.
Australia were 265 for six at tea in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 239, a lead of 26 runs. Australia were under pressure for the first time in the series when left-arm spinner Paul Adams and fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took two wickets each in the hour after lunch to reduce the tourists to 185 for six.
But the left-handed Gilchrist continued in the form which made him the scorer of the fastest Test double century of all time during the first Test in Johannesburg as he made 49 not out off 52 balls with 10 fours.
Warne, playing in his 100th Test, became the eighth player in history to complete the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets as he helped Gilchrist add an unbeaten 80 in 68 minutes for the seventh wicket.
Warne was 39 not out at tea, scored off 46 balls with six fours and a six.
Australia were on course for their fifth successive win over South Africa when they reached 152 for two at lunch, losing prolific opening batsmen Justin Langer (37) and Matthew Hayden (63).
But the South Africans, fielding a side with four changes after losing by an innings and 360 runs in the first Test, fought back. The unorthodox Adams, playing in his first Test match since April, started an Australian slide when he had Ricky Ponting caught behind for 47, then bowled Australian captain Steve Waugh for nought.
Waugh had come close to giving a catch when he tried to slog-sweep the previous delivery, top-edging the ball between slip and backward point.
He tried another attacking shot and the ball deflected off his front pad to hit the off-stump.
Ntini followed up by having Mark Waugh caught at gully for 25 and Damien Martyn caught behind for two. Gilchrist and Warne played positively, however, to turn the tide back in Australia's favour.
March 09, 2002 - 1115 GMT
Australia's batsmen maintain pressure
CAPE TOWN: Australia's batsmen, despite the loss of both openers, strengthened their grip on the second test against South Africa with some brisk scoring on Saturday morning.
Resuming on their overnight 46 without loss in reply to South Africa's first innings of 239, Australia raced to 152 for two by lunch on day two with Ricky Ponting not out 40 and Mark Waugh on 11.
The Australians maintained a scoring rate of close to five runs an over for much of the session, making light of the loss of Justin Langer (37) and Matthew Hayden (63) with a blaze of positive strokes.
Langer was first to go, chasing a wide delivery from Makhaya Ntini and dragging the ball on to his stumps. His 37 came from just 34 balls and included seven fours. There was little respite for the South African bowlers, however, as Hayden continued the form which has seen him pile up four centuries in his last four tests -- all of them against South Africa.
Particularly strong driving straight and punching off his legs, the left-hander seemed impregnable until he fell into Jacques Kallis' well-laid trap, hooking a short ball straight to Andrew Hall on the fine leg boundary.
Hayden made 63 in 92 balls and struck 10 fours. His dismissal came as a huge relief for Herschelle Gibbs, who had dropped the Australian on 56 after getting both hands to a powerful cut at point but failing to hold on to a sharp chance.
Mark Waugh was also handed a reprieve, on 10, when he advanced down the wicket to a Paul Adams delivery but Mark Boucher, behind the stumps, failed to take cleanly and the batsman was able to regain his ground.
Ponting was in fine touch before lunch, crunching two of the first three deliveries he faced to the boundary and pulling Andrew Hall majestically over midwicket for six.
DAY
ONE
March 08, 2002 - 1640 GMT
South Africa 239 v Australia
CAPE TOWN: Australia, replying to South Africa's first innings total of 239, were 46 for no wicket at the close on the first day of the second test at Newlands on Friday.
March 08, 2002 - 1335 GMT
Australia maintain stranglehold on South Africa
CAPE TOWN: Australia refused to loosen their stranglehold on South Africa on Friday as the home side staggered through their first innings on day one of the second test at Newlands.
At tea, South Africa were 155 for seven wickets, with Andrew Hall 37 not out and Paul Adams unbeaten on four. Glenn 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 clutch a brilliant one-handed catch.
A crunching pull over square leg for four off Glenn McGrath brought Hall his first runs in test cricket, and he and captain Mark Boucher proceeded to steady the South African innings, Hall in particular timing the ball sweetly.
But after the pair had added 55 for the seventh wicket, Boucher chased a full delivery from Brett Lee and Gilchrist again dived full length to pouch a breathtaking catch.
The first hour of the morning session was a familiar clatter of wickets as South Africa collapsed to 25 for three in the face of some accurate and penetrative fast bowling from the Australians.
All three were caught in the slip cordon. Herschelle Gibbs (12) edged Jason Gillespie to Mark Waugh at second slip after a confident start.
Twenty-year-old debutant Graeme Smith (three) got off the mark with a single through the leg side off his first ball but then pushed firmly at a McGrath delivery which was angled across the left-hander for Ricky Ponting to take a
good low catch at third slip. Steve Waugh's decision to turn to Lee after just eight overs brought an immediate reward with the wicket of Gary Kirsten.
Mark Waugh extended his world record for catches in test cricket to 170 as Kirsten (seven) was undone by Lee's extra bounce off a good length.
Shane Warne, playing in his 100th test match and who led the Australians onto the field at the start of play, then dismissed Neil McKenzie shortly before lunch. McKenzie (20) looked to be playing the leg-spinner comfortably, but then played inside the line of a straight delivery and was clean bowled.
March 08, 2002 - 1050 GMT
Australia maintain stranglehold on South Africa
CAPE TOWN: Australia continued their dominance over South Africa with a fine bowling display on the first morning of the second test at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, South Africa went to lunch on 73 for four wickets in their first innings with Jacques Kallis on 23 and Ashwell Prince yet to score.
The first hour was a familiar clatter of wickets as South Africa collapsed to 25 for three in the face of some accurate and penetrative fast bowling from the Australians.
Although Herschelle Gibbs (12) gave an early indication of good form with two consective boundaries in Jason Gillespie's second over, he then attempted to drive the next delivery through cover and edged to Mark Waugh
at second slip.
Twenty-year-old debutant Graeme Smith (three) got off the mark with a single through the leg side off his first ball but then pushed firmly at a McGrath delivery which was angled across the left-hander 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. Again the slip cordon was called into action, Mark Waugh extending his world record for catches in
test cricket to 170 as Kirsten (seven) was undone by Lee's extra bounce off a good length.
Shane Warne, playing in his 100th test match and who led the Australians onto the field at the start of play, then dismissed Neil McKenzie shortly before lunch. McKenzie (20) looked to be playing the leg-spinner comfortably, but then played inside the line of a straight delivery and was clean bowled.
March 08, 2002 - 0845 GMT
South Africa decide to bat first
CAPE TOWN: Mark Boucher who is leading the side again following the withdrawal through injury of appointed captain Shaun Pollock, won the toss and decided to bat first as South Africa, battered by injuries and the controversial withdrawal of recalled batsman Daryll Cullinan, face a near-impossible task from a rampant Australia in the second Test which got underway at Newlands on Friday.
The South African team includes three new caps Graeme Smith,
Andrew Hall and Dewald Pretorius.
South Africa are short of experience in both batting and bowling but it has been the failure of their bowlers to contain Australia to reasonable totals that has been a major factor in their defeats.
With Pollock and Mornantau Hayward all injured, and Allan Donald retired, the fast bowling attack will be led by Makhaya Ntini, who was South Africa's most impressive bowler in Johannesburg, and new cap Dewald Pretorius, who took five wickets for South Africa A against the Australians in Port Elizabeth. All-rounder Andrew Hall, another of the new caps, is not regarded as a front-line bowler but has the ability to swing the ball.
He showed during 18 one-day internationals for South Africa that he has the fighting spirit that the current Test side lacked in Johannesburg. South Africa recalled left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams for his first Test in almost a year in the hope that he can produce the wicket-taking deliveries that have eluded the other bowlers.
The South Africans will have to reshuffle their batting order following Cullinan's withdrawal. Cullinan was due to bat at number four but was replaced by newcomer Graeme Smith, an opening batsman.
The Australians, meanwhile, have a settled side, with all their key players in form. Leg-spinner Shane Warne, who will be playing in his 100th Test, said Australia would not under-estimate their opponents.
South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher (capt/wk), Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Dewald Pretorius, Paul Adams.
Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (capt), Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist (w/k), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa). TV umpire: Dave Orchard (South Africa). Match referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies).
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