CRICKET TEST:MAKHAYA NTINI claimed three wickets as South Africa gave Australia food for thought on the opening day of the first Test at the WACA in Perth.
The hosts overcame a terrible start to finish on 341 for nine at stumps, with Simon Katich (83), Michael Clarke (62) and Andrew Symonds (57) all passing their half-centuries.
Australia crashed to 15 for three in the first six overs when Matthew Hayden fell for 12 and Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey both went for ducks.
Ntini claimed Hayden and Ponting's scalps with consecutive balls before Hussey became Dale Steyn's first wicket of the series. But Katich and Clarke steadied the Aussies' ship with a fourth-wicket stand of 149.
Katich finally fell victim to Morne Morkel's yorkers while Clarke, in the next over, mistimed a drive and lobbed Paul Harris's delivery directly to Graeme Smith.
But despite conceding 93 runs in 73 minutes as Symonds and Haddin (46) carved up the attack, South Africa's aggressive field placements paid dividends as they tempted both Symonds and Brad Haddin into costly big shots over the infield. Steyn then removed Brett Lee for 29 (caught by Jean-Paul Duminy) and off the last ball of the day Morkel bowled Mitchell Johnson for 18.
