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SYDNEY, Dec 20: South Africa’s fragility against leg-spin bowling, despite Herschelle Gibbs’ century, was further exposed despite the tourists’ strong batting effort against New South Wales on the first day of a tour match here Thursday.
The Proteas went to stumps at 375 for six but put together only two solid partnerships as Stuart MacGill wrecked the middle order, taking a five wicket haul in an impressive display.
MacGill took 3-0 in seven balls either side of the tea break as South Africa lost 4-8 at one stage.
MacGill, who bowled 31 overs on the trot from the 18th over, finished with 5-125.
In last week’s first first Test in Adelaide, Shane Warne captured eight match wickets as South Australia crashed to defeat.
MacGill, 12th man for the Adelaide Test and angling for a run in the third Test in Sydney, said he was careful not to show too many of his tricks.
“It was difficult at times to keep a few things up my sleeve just in case I do see them again in the big-time,” MacGill said.
MacGill five wickets cost 125 runs from his 35 overs, but he made no apology for giving up 90 runs in boundaries — 21 fours and a six.
“I’m totally wickets focused — I’m not able at times to bowl as accurately as Shane (Warne) does.”
Gibbs was the backbone of the innings Thursday, making a dazzling 145, of which 106 runs came in boundaries — 25 fours and a six.
With Jacques Rudolph (52) he put on 164 for the second wicket before South Africa’s innings skidded out of control.
Things looked bad when MacGill removed Gibbs and Justin Ontong in the final over before tea and then claimed Lance Klusener’s scalp, clean-bowled for a duck two balls after the break.
However, Boeta Dippenaar and Mark Boucher (47) restored some credibility with a hard-hitting stand of 105 for the sixth wicket.
Dippenaar, who is playing to save his Test spot, showed he is capable of classic strokes, making 78 not out and hitting 16 boundaries.
Gibbs eventually fell to a lazy shot — waving his bat at a wide ball from MacGill and was brilliantly caught by Mark Higgs in the covers.
South Africa made 254 of their runs from boundaries.
Scoreboard
SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):
G. Kirsten st Haddin b MacGill 31
H.H. Gibbs c Higgs b MacGill 145
J.A. Rudolph b Bradstreet 52
H.H. Dippenaar not out 78
J.L. Ontong c Haddin b MacGill 0
L. Klusener b MacGill 0
M.V. Boucher lbw b MacGill 44
S.M. Pollock not out 14
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-4, NB-4) 11
TOTAL (for six wkts, 99 overs) 375
TO BAT: S. Elworthy, C.J. Henderson, A.A. Donald.
FALL OF WKTS: 1-67, 2-231, 3-235, 4-235, 5-239, 6-344.
BOWLING (to-date): Nash 14-5-41-0; Heath 15-5-44-0; Bradstreet 14-2-79-1 (1nb); Higgs 17-2-58-0; MacGill 35-6-125-5; Bevan 4-0-21-0 (3nb).
NEW SOUTH WALES: M.G. Bevan (captain), G.J. Mail, M.J. Clarke, B.P. van Deinsen, M.A. Higgs, C.J. Richards, B.J. Haddin, S.C.G. MacGill, S.D. Bradstreet, J.M. Heath, D.A. Nash.—AFP/Reuters
