South Africa survived a nervous window before lunch on day two after the world’s No.1 ranked team finally shut down Australia’s record-breaking first innings in the second Test.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith is nought not out and his opening partner Alviro Petersen unbeaten on three as South Africa negotiated four pesky overs to be 0-3 in response to Australia’s 550.
James Pattinson has 0-3 from two overs, while Ben Hilfenhaus bowled two maidens to start the innings.
Michael Clarke was dismissed for the first time in two matches and 489 runs five overs into the day – bowled by Morne Morkel for 230.
Morkel finished with a five-wicket haul (5-146), taking the prized scalp of Clarke, who hit 40 fours and one six, and then Matthew Wade (6) and Hilfenhaus (0) on Friday.
Pattinson caused some late headaches for South Africa, though, smashing an important 42 from 35 balls as Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on seven.
Overall, the Proteas composed themselves well after Thursday’s punishment.
They face a big challenge to get themselves back into the match, but the scenario could have been much worse had they not fronted up.
Clarke was bowled by Morkel in the fifth full over of the day having added six runs to his overnight score.
The skipper fell just eight runs short of Sachin Tendulkar’s mark of most runs scored between dismissals.
His back-to-back double hundreds in Brisbane and now Adelaide put him third on that list, just one run behind Sir Garfield Sobers, who managed 490 from two innings back in 1958.
Morkel was easily South Africa’s best bowler on day one, but had little luck.
He was finally rewarded for his effort and persistence.
Proteas rookie Rory Kleinveldt claimed his first Test wicket when he had Peter Siddle (6) caught behind.
Kleinveldt (1-81) has had a tough initiation since making his debut in Brisbane, but had to sweat it out after umpire Billy Bowden sent the dismissal upstairs to check on a front-foot no-ball.
Replays suggested Kleinveldt was lucky to hold onto the scalp.
South Africa bowled fuller on day two than they did on Thursday when they were pounded for 482 runs – a near record for Australia in a day’s play.
Captain Clarke will be urging his bowlers to pitch it up and put pressure on the South African batsmen who are carrying an injured Jacques Kallis (hamstring).
There were two stunning hundreds on day one that didn’t belong to Clarke – David Warner scorched 119 from 112 balls (also dismissed by Morkel) and Mike Hussey backed up his ton at the Gabba with a superb 103.
The humiliation continued for Proteas spinner Imran Tahir on Friday, finishing with 0-180 after Pattinson had finished with him.
Kallis took 2-19 before leaving the field injured, debutant Faf du Plessis had 0-34 and Dale Steyn finished 2-79.
