December 30, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 01,1430

MELBOURNE, Dec 29: South Africa look poised to seal a historic Test series victory in Australia after fast bowler Dale Steyn captured his second five-wicket haul in the match to bowl out the hosts for 247 on the fourth day of the second Test at the MCG here on Monday.

Australia were left staring at a first home series defeat in 16 years after Steyn took 5-67 for a match bag of 10 for 154, leaving Graeme Smith’s side needing just 183 to clinch a remarkable win. At stumps, South Africa were 30 without loss in the second innings.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was dismissed one run short of his second century of the game when he was the eighth wicket to fall after looking on course to become the first man to score a century in each innings of a Test on four occasions.

But his departure all but ended Australia’s hopes of posting a difficult total for South Africa, who won the first Test in Perth by six wickets after chasing down a target of 414.

Ponting again carried his team’s hopes virtually single-handedly after his leading batsmen failed when the world champions resumed their second innings at 4-0, 61 runs behind.

Hayden had smashed two fours in three balls off Steyn, but in the same over he drove straight to the man recently positioned at short extra-cover.

Steyn struck again in his next over, Simon Katich chasing a wide one and feathering a thin edge through to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, who took a neat low catch.

Mike Hussey’s dismal run of form continued, but his luck was rather summed up by an unfortunate decision from umpire Aleem Dar. A brutal lifting delivery from Morne Morkel appeared to fly off his helmet rather than bat or glove but the left-hander was given out and has now scored only 10 runs in four innings in the series.

Ponting began to score freely after lunch, with some stylish, trademark drives, but a 96-run partnership with Michael Clarke was brought to an end by Steyn.

A short, wide delivery should have been dispatched to the boundary, but Clarke failed to connect properly and was well caught at short cover by Neil McKenzie.

Steyn made it a double wicket maiden when Andrew Symonds, having seen one edge fall short of Jacques Kallis at second slip, prodded hesitantly at the final ball of the over and was smartly taken by the all-rounder diving forward.

That left the Australians only 80 ahead with five wickets left, but Brad Haddin maintained attacking intentions, skipping down the pitch to hit slow left-armer Paul Harris over mid-off for six. He made only 10, however, before he was drawn into a drive outside the off-stump by Makhaya Ntini, and the edge was safely pouched by Kallis again at second slip.

In the final over before tea, Kallis collected his 250th Test wicket when Brett Lee, incapacitated by a foot injury but not batting with a runner, got an inside edge on to middle stump.

Ponting found a useful ally in Mitchell Johnson and, despite being in the 90s for over 40 minutes, looked certain to complete his 38th Test century.

But on 99, Smith left only one slip in place, moved himself to short cover and gratefully took the catch as, for once, Ponting drove loosely. Ponting’s team were only 147 ahead, and though Johnson added some useful runs, Steyn returned to dismiss last man Peter Siddle, which signalled his 150th wicket in just his 29th Test and his third 10-wicket match haul.

Lee was given the new ball despite his injury, but Smith outlined his intentions by driving the first ball of the innings down the ground for four.

Smith hit two more fours in Siddle’s opening over, but in the next one from Lee, McKenzie was bowled, only for umpire Billy Doctrove to rule that the paceman had over-stepped.

There was no breakthrough in the remaining overs and South Africa stand on the verge of becoming the first team to win a Test series in Australia since Richie Richardson’s West Indies in 1992-93.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 394 (R.T. Ponting 101, M.J. Clarke 88 not out, S.M. Katich 54; D.W. Steyn 5-87).

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 459 (J.P. Duminy 166, D.W. Steyn 76, G.C. Smith 62; P.M. Siddle 4-81).

AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings, overnight 4-0):

M.L. Hayden c Duminy b Steyn 23

S.M. Katich c Boucher b Steyn 13

R.T. Ponting c Smith b Morkel 99

M.E.K. Hussey c Amla b Morkel 2

M.J. Clarke c McKenzie b Steyn 29

A. Symonds c Kallis b Steyn 0

B.J. Haddin c Kallis b Ntini 10

B. Lee b Kallis 0

M.G. Johnson not out 43

N.M. Hauritz b Kallis 3

P.M. Siddle c Boucher b Steyn 6

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, NB-5) 9

TOTAL (all out, 84.2 overs) 247

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-40, 3-49, 4-145, 5-145, 6-165, 7-180, 8-212, 9-231.

BOWLING: Steyn 20.2-3-67-5 (1nb); Ntini 14-1-26-1; Morkel 15-2-46-2 (4nb); Harris 21-1-47-0; Kallis 14-1-57-2.

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

G.C. Smith not out 25

N.D. McKenzie not out 3

EXTRAS (NB-2) 2

TOTAL (for no wkt, 6 overs) 30

BOWLING (to-date): Lee 3-0-17-0 (2nb); Siddle 3-1-13-0.—Agencies