Proteas set world record to win in Perth
Australia is poised for victory after day four of the First Test match against South Africa at the WACA Ground
in Perth.
An unbeaten double century from Test newcomer Brad Hodge has enabled Australia to set the Proteas a world
record target, of 491 runs, to win the first of the three-match Test series.
South Africa in reply, when bad light ended play, was 2-85. Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Rudolph at the
crease ahead of the final day tomorrow with South Africa still requiring 406 runs, a huge ask on the bowler
friendly pitch.
Earlier, Australia resumed overnight at 4-310. Mike Hussey added four runs to his score before Pollock had
him caught behind in the second over of play. Hodge then posted his maiden Test century with a flick shot off
Pollock's bowling that went through square leg and down to the fence.
Hodge and Andrew Symonds took the score past 350 before Charl Langeveldt was rewarded with his third scalp
of the innings, that of Symonds (25), when Gibbs held on to the ball at first slip.
Australia went to lunch at 6-401. The dropped catches continued after the break when AB de Villiers
squandered the chance Adam Gilchrist offered him. Gilchrist went on to post 44 before Gibbs took his second
catch, this time at deep mid-wicket.
|
Test Series - First Test |
| AUSTRALIA |
258 & 8d/528 |
(Second Innings)
| Brad Hodge | 203* |
| Mike Hussey | 58 |
| Charl Langeveldt | 3/117 |
| Shaun Pollock | 2/98 |
|
| SOUTH AFRICA |
296 & 2/85 |
(Second Innings)
| Graeme Smith | 30 |
| Jacques Rudolph | 18* |
| Nathan Bracken | 1/14 |
| Shane Warne | 1/27 |
|
@ the WACA Ground, Perth
Match Summary :: Day Four |
Shane Warne fell lbw to Justin Kemp, while Nathan Bracken and Hodge shared an unbeaten 77-run ninth wicket
stand in the 46 minutes prior to captain Ricky Ponting declaring the innings closed once Hodge had reached his
200.
Tea was taken early with South Africa set about eight hours to attempt what no other team has ever been
able to achieve in the fourth innings of a Test.
AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith got the Proteas off to a good start with 35 runs on the board in the 18th
over. Warne ended the first stand on 35, in his third over, with de Villiers (12) caught at short leg by
Hodge.
Warne nearly had Gibbs bowled, before Bracken snared Smith (30) with the natural light fading.
Play resumes tomorrow morning at 10:30am local time.
Full scorecard available
here.
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