SYDNEY, Jan 3: South Africa made a confident start in the third and final Test as Australia reached 267-6 in their first innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, Australia had slumped to 162-5 after tea before NSW team-mates Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin began the rescue mission on their home ground.

Vice-captain Clarke, who was dropped twice, was 73 not out at the close after fast bowler Dale Steyn took the crucial late wicket of Haddin (38) to end a 75-run partnership.

South Africa, who are hoping to inflict Australia’s first home whitewash in 122 years, will become the top-ranked Test-playing nation if they win here.

As expected, South named an unchanged side, while Australia gave debuts to all-rounder Andrew McDonald and pace bowler Doug Bollinger, the latter given his first chance on his home ground.

But the focus was on opener Matthew Hayden at the start of play after home skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first.

Hayden has been in a wretched run of form and, prior to the squad being announced, there were calls in the Australian media for the 37-year-old to be dropped.

He reined in his attacking instincts and was outscored by partner Simon Katich as they put on 62 for the first wicket.

But Australia then suffered a double blow as the in-form Katich was caught at second slip off Jacques Kallis and Ponting departed first ball in the next over as Morne Morkel found the inside edge of his bat and keeper Mark Boucher did the rest.

Hayden’s watchful innings came to an end after lunch when he attempted to drive a wide ball from Steyn and only succeeded in dragging the ball into his stumps.

His exit for 31 left Australia on 109-3 and put the onus on Michael Hussey, who has also been short of runs in recent matches, and Clarke to rebuild the innings.

The spin of Paul Harris accounted for Hussey, however, when he pushed forward defensively and was caught at slip by Kallis for 30.

New boy McDonald was greeted by a rising delivery from Morkel which struck him on the body, edged just short of the slip cordon two balls later and shortly afterwards had his helmet knocked off by a bouncer from the tall paceman.

Clarke, meanwhile, had his first escape on 12 when Makhaya Ntini put down a difficult chance as he moved to his right at mid-off, with Harris the unlucky bowler.

But Ntini atoned with the wicket of McDonald, who paid the price for poor foot movement as an attempted drive resulted in a catch to Boucher, leaving Australia on 162-5.

Clarke and Haddin gradually lifted the tension among home supporters – with Clarke reaching his half century off 15 balls and Haddin hitting a four and six off successive balls from Harris. The pair were eventually separated when Steyn, armed with the second new ball, produced a near unplayable delivery which hit the top of Haddin’s off stump.

But Clarke survived when Hashim Amla put down a straightforward chance at short mid-wicket off Ntini and Mitchell Johnson kept him company to stumps with an unbeaten 17.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke defended Ponting and chief selector Andrew Hilditch following criticism in the wake of the team’s nine-wicket defeat in the second Test in Melbourne. “At times like this when Australian cricket is challenged, Ricky and his team, and Andrew and his selectors, have the support of Cricket Australia.

“They now have a chance to leave their most important legacy in managing the current transition from the great team of the last 15 years to rebuilding the dynasty. They deserve, and have earned, our respect,” he said on Saturday.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings):

M.L. Hayden b Steyn 31

S.M. Katich c de Villiers b Kallis 47

R.T. Ponting c Boucher b Morkel 0

M.E.K. Hussey c Kallis b Harris 30

M.J. Clarke not out 73

A.B. McDonald c Boucher b Ntini 15

B.J. Haddin b Steyn 38

M.G. Johnson not out 17

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-2, NB-7) 16

TOTAL (for six wkts, 88 overs) 267

FALL OF WKTS: 1-62, 2-63, 3-109, 4-130, 5-162, 6-237.

TO BAT: N.M. Hauritz, P.M. Siddle, D.E. Bollinger.

BOWLING (to-date): Steyn 21-4-71-2; Ntini 19-5-53-1 (2nb, 1w); Morkel 17-3-49-1 (5nb); Kallis 15-4-43-1 (1w); Harris 16-3-44-1.

SOUTH AFRCA: G.C. Smith, N.D. McKenzie, H.M. Amla, J.H. Kallis, A.B. de Villiers, J.P. Duminy, M.V. Boucher, M. Morkel, P.L. Harris, D.W. Steyn, M. Ntini.

UMPIRES: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand) and E.A.R. de Silva (Sri Lanka).

TV UMPIRE: R.J. Tucker (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—Agencies