Proteas within reach
20 December, 2008

Brad Haddin A composed century from Graeme Smith has put South Africa within range of winning the first 3 Mobile Test, although the tourists still need to complete the second highest run chase in history.

On a stormy, rain-interrupted day at the WACA, where play stretched deep into the evening, South Africa bowled Australia out for 319 on the stroke of lunch, top scorer Brad Haddin scoring 94, to set the Proteas 414 over five sessions of play.

South Africa lost Neil McKenzie early in the innings for 10 but Smith's century and a half century to Hashim Amla helped the Proteas finish on 3-227, needing 187 to win with seven wickets in hand and a day to play.

Smith and Amla combined for 163 runs, the pair barely presenting a chance to the Australians as they fended off Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza with ease, moving along to 1-172 late in the final session.

But the re-introduction of spearheads Brett Lee (1-40) and Mitchell Johnson (2-56) into the attack changed the complexion of this topsy-turvy match once again.

After taking McKenzie's wicket in the first hour, Johnson claimed his second scalp of the innings and his 10th of the match trapping Smith in front on 108 with a slower ball the skipper attempted to flick off his pads.

Despite taking a secondary role in the partnership, Amla appeared untroubled by Australia's attack as he steadily compiled 53 runs, using his trademark flicks to great effect.

But Lee finally took a well-deserved first wicket for the match, having Amla caught behind three overs after Smith departed.

Having bowled a bouncer at the elegant No.3 bat, Lee followed it up with a fuller delivery that seamed slightly off the deck, earning the bowler a slight edge that carried through to Haddin.

It was the very least Lee deserved for an intimidating performance, especially early in the innings, where he defied a gusty wind to bowl with venom, pinning down the South African openers for seven overs as he beat the bat and threatened with virtually every ball.

But Jacques Kallis (33) and AB de Villiers (11) - the Proteas' top scorers in the first innings with 63 - defied Lee and Johnson, seeing them off as a combination of rain delays and a slow over rate took play past eight o'clock pm, Siddle and Krejza receiving more stick from Kallis as their concentration waned.

If they reach the target, the Proteas will just fall just short of the highest chase in Test history, an accolade earned by the West Indies in 2002-03 when they successfully chased down 418 to win.

Earlier in the day, Haddin and Krejza posted a 79-run eighth-wicket partnership, helping Australia recover from 7-162 late on the third day.

It was a particularly impressive performance by Australia's tail, as the last three wickets fell for 157.

Krejza was out to another brilliant diving catch by de Villiers at point off Kallis (3-24) bowling, the batsman enjoying a sensational match in the field having taken memorable catches to remove Lee in this innings and Mike Hussey on the first day.

A free-wheeling Johnson wielded his bat with such power he broke it compiling 21 runs before edging Morne Morkel (1-42) to Kallis at first slip, while the unbeaten Siddle (4) looked solid in defence as Haddin lifted the run rate down the other end, scoring 16 off Paul Harris (1-85) before being stumped.