First Test evenly poised
17 December, 2008

Australia has finished the opening day of the first 3 Mobile Test against South Africa on 9-341.

At the start of the day, the Australians would probably have been more than happy with the 300-plus score after falling to 3-15 in the first six overs when Matthew Hayden fell for 12 with Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey both making ducks.

But having established decent starts to their innings, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin all gave up their wickets cheaply playing rash shots and the Australians could end up paying dearly for it against a strong South African batting line-up.

Jason Krejza (19) and Peter Siddle (0) were the not out batsmen after Mitchell Johnson (18) was trapped in front off the final ball of the day by the impressive Morne Morkel

It was a fair result for the South Africans as Johnson was dropped at fine-leg by Makhaya Ntini and presented several other chances throughout his innings.

Simon Katich was the star of the day for the hosts, though, the opener producing an almost chanceless 83 before being trapped in front by a full toss from Morne Morkel just before tea.

At that point, the Australians had wrested the momentum back from South Africa after the early flurry of wickets, with Katich and Michael Clarke combining for 149 runs for the fourth wicket.

The next over Clarke had a brain explosion, lofting South African spinner Paul Harris to mid-on unnecessarily and losing his wicket for 62, allowing the South Africans to go to tea with all the momentum and the score at 5-172.

Symonds (57) and Haddin (46) looked set for the most explosive partnership of the day, however, as the pair took to Harris and Jacques Kallis in the final session, taking singles at will as Proteas' skipper Graeme Smith opted for an ultra-aggressive field with a short mid-on and short mid-off in play.

But despite conceding 93 runs in 73 minutes as Symonds and Haddin carved up the attack, Smith's aggressive field placements eventually paid dividends as he tempted both Symonds and Haddin into big shots over the infield.

Having passed his half-century, Symonds was deceived by some movement by Harris and his leading edge was well caught in the deep by Neil McKenzie, giving the spinner his second wicket at the expense of 70 runs.

The second new ball worked effectively for South Africa too, as Haddin lofted Ntini's second delivery with the new ball directly down Proteas debutant J.P. Duminy's throat in the deep once again.

It was the veteran fast bowler's third wicket of the day after he claimed Hayden and Ponting's scalps with consecutive balls in the third over of the morning.

The biggest disappointment of the day for South Africa would be star fast bowler Dale Steyn. The 25-year-old claimed Hussey's wicket early in the morning bowling into the breeze but became increasingly frustrated as Katich and Clarke salvaged Australia's innings.

As his frustration mounted Steyn lost his length and was pinged for three wides for deliveries that flew over the batsmen's heads. He eventually took his second wicket for 71 runs after Brett Lee (29) mis-timed a drive and was caught by Duminy.

Morkel (2-62), though, eventually took the second wicket he deserved off the last ball of the day. His patient use of the yorker had proved enough to break the Katich/Clarke partnership that had threatened to see Australia post a 450-plus score, while the lanky paceman produced an effective line and length all day as others floundered.

The Proteas', though, suffered an early blow on Wednesday morning. Vice-captain Ashwell Prince was forced from the side after cracking his thumb in the nets on Tuesday facing Ntini. He is expected to need 10-days recuperation and could be in doubt for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.