South Africa senses series victory

Teenager Pat Cummins took 6-79 on debut but Australia still needs to make 310 in a record run-chase at Wanderers to win the 2nd test against S Africa and save the series.

The 18-year-old Cummins ripped out Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel in the first two balls after lunch on Sunday, but Dale Steyn’s 41 from No. 9 pushed South Africa to 339 all out in its second innings on day four.

Philander then removed both openers in the first three overs of Australia’s second innings to have it reeling at 19-2, still needing another 291 runs to avoid its first test series loss in South Africa in 41 years.

South Africa leads the two-test contest 1-0.

Steyn shared a 48-run partnership with Philander in the first session and added 25 for the last wicket with Imran Tahir in a hectic five overs after lunch as South Africa pushed toward a series-winning position despite Cummins’ outstanding effort.

The paceman became the youngest Australian to take five wickets in an innings in international cricket when he blasted out Morkel with a full, swinging delivery straight after removing Philander.

Cummins ended South Africa’s innings when he had Steyn caught behind for match figures of 7-117 in his first test, but South Africa’s lower order partnerships between Steyn and Philander and Steyn and Tahir had already frustrated Australia.

Steyn hit three sixes and two fours, while Philander had three fours in his 23.

Their crucial stand regained control for the Proteas after an early surge from the touring side on the fourth day, when they broke an overnight century partnership between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers straight away and had South Africa 266-7 at one stage.

Cummins removed De Villiers for 73 while Ashwell Prince, Amla (105) and Mark Boucher fell within 17 runs of each other to leave the match in the balance, with the lead at 236.

But Steyn’s late hitting, where he kept Tahir away from the strike and cashed in when he could, left Australia needing the highest fourth-innings total ever to win a test at Wanderers.

The record fourth-innings run chase to win at the Johannesburg ground is 294 — by Australia in 2006.

Cummins continued his impressive debut in the fourth over of day four to have De Villiers caught in the slips.

De Villiers and Amla added eight runs to their overnight stand to move to 147 and break the record for a fourth-wicket partnership at Wanderers.

But De Villiers then fell to Cummins and Prince was run out for 2 in a mix-up with Amla.

Amla fell soon after reaching his 14th test century — and second in successive matches against Australia — to a good delivery from Mitchell Johnson. The struggling strike bowler got one to leave the right-hander and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a low catch.

Boucher’s edge to Shane Watson gave Nathan Lyon (2-57) his second wicket as the touring team forced its way back into the match.

Steyn hit a four and a sweep for six and Philander three boundaries to hold off Australia’s attack for the final 17 overs of the first session, pushing South Africa’s lead to 284 at lunch.

Cummins made an immediate impact in the second session when Philander was given out to an edge behind off a fast, rising delivery. Cummins’ next ball smashed into Morkel’s stumps and his dismissal of Steyn made him the second youngest player to take six wickets in an innings in tests.

SCOREBOARD

Australia needs 310 to win: South Africa 1st Innings 266= Australia 1st Inning 296= South Africa 2nd Innings=

Graeme Smith c Hughes b Lyon 36

Jacques Rudolph c Haddin b Cummins 24

Hashim Amla c Haddin b Johnson 105

Jacques Kallis c Clarke b Cummins 2

AB de Villiers c Clarke b Cummins 73

Ashwell Prince run out Ponting 2

Mark Boucher c Watson b Lyon 13

Vernon Philander c Haddin b Cummins 23

Dale Steyn c Haddin b Cummins 41

Morne Morkel b Cummins 0

Imran Tahir not out 4

Extras: (5b, 2lb, 7w, 2nb) 16

TOTAL: (all out) 339

Overs: 110.

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-75, 3-90, 4-237, 5-249, 6-260, 7-266, 8-314, 9-314.

Bowling: Mitchell Johnson 30-4-101-1 (2nb), Pat Cummins 29-5-79-6 (7w), Peter Siddle 27-10-71-0, Nathan Lyon 16-4-57-2, Mike Hussey 5-0-14-0, Michael Clarke 2-1-2-0, Ricky Ponting 1-0-8-0.

Toss: won by South Africa.

Series: South Africa leads the two-match series 1-0.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, New Zealand, and Ian Gould, England.

TV Umpire: Billy Doctrove, West Indies. Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama, Sri Lanka.