World-champs take series lead

Australia have taken a 1-0 lead of the three-test series today, claiming victory over the Proteas just after lunch on day five at the MCG, knocking over the tourists for the meager total of 181, with the South Africans falling 184 runs adrift of the target set by Australia just before Tea yesterday.

For the Aussies on the final day, Glenn McGrath was the main contributor to the atrophy of the Proteas batting order, claiming 2 wickets on the final day to end up with figures of 3-44, while blonde diesel Shane Warne took one wicket to finish up with the impressive, yet expensive figures of 4-74.

For the Proteas, veteran Shaun Pollock reaffirmed his status as an all-rounder, providing plenty of resilience all day, making a well-constructed 67 not out, in an innings which included eight fours, and one lofty six.

The day’s play started off with the visitors sitting not-so-pretty at 6-99, with Pollock and Ashwell Prince looking to settle in at the crease.

The formidable pair made slow inroads towards the total of the Australians, putting on a defiant 48 runs and providing some stout defence before Prince (26) was dubiously adjudged caught at slip by Matthew Hayden off the bowling of Warne, when the ball appeared to make contact with the forearm of Prince, as opposed to the bat.

The dismissal of Prince prompted the more than capable Nicky Boje to join Pollock at the crease.

Boje managed to fend off 38 balls before Boje edged a trademark Glenn McGrath delivery onto his stumps, to send him back to the pavilion before lunch for 13.

Livewire Andre Nel strode to the crease to partner Pollock, and while low expectations were placed upon Nel, he was in for a short stay as he flayed at a good-length McGrath ball outside the off-stump, which landed in the hands of Adam Gilchrist, dismissing Nel for the low score of two.

An injury-plague Makhaya Ntini struggled to the crease, partnered by his runner AB De Villiers, Ntini managed to survive the four balls before lunch to deny McGrath of his fourth wicket.

In the first over after the break, Stuart MacGill delivered one of his trademark Googly’s coming in from outside off-stump and cleaning up the wickets of Ntini.

The final wicket of Ntini prompted celebrations from the crowd and players alike, as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-test series.

Australian batsman Michael Hussey was named man-of-the-match, after saving Australia’s first innings by combining for a 107-run stand with number 11 batsman McGrath, and producing a dazzling century of his own.

Both sides will now head north to the Sydney Cricket Ground to prepare for the third and final test match of the series to start on Monday the 2nd of January.

Full scorecard available here.

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