CRICKET / Australia v South Africa: Coach John Buchanan blamed Australia's ill-discipline for their batting collapse on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa yesterday.
Buchanan said Australia's batsmen paid the price for poor shot selection after they slumped to 258 all out, having appeared to be cruising along at 111-1.
"It was a game of two parts today. Up until lunch, South Africa were lacking in discipline with their line and length and we took advantage and exploited that," he said. "But come the second part of the day it was vice-versa, they tied their discipline up and we probably didn't."
Three of the Australians, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, threw their wickets away trying to pull Makhaya Ntini. Andrew Symonds chopped the ball on to his stumps and four others were needlessly caught behind. Buchanan said Australia had also bowled poorly at the South Africans in the half hour before the close, allowing the visitors to reach 38-0. "I'm disappointed we won the toss and batted and were all out for 258," Buchanan said.
A superb bowling display by Ntini put Australia on the back foot. Ntini recorded five for 64 as Australia were bowled out for 258. Andre Nel also chipped in with three for 29. Opener Matthew Hayden was out for a duck to Ntini in only the eighth delivery of the day with a single run on the board.
That brought captain Ricky Ponting to the crease and he took the game to the tourists with aggressive stroke play which quickly moved the score along. He added 71 off 107 balls, hitting 12 fours before being dismissed lbw to a Shaun Pollock delivery which swung late. That came soon after opener Langer had become Ntini's second wicket, caught by Graeme Smith at mid-off for 37 after top-edging an attempted pull.
Australia were on 175 for three at tea, but Ntini was about to enjoy his best spell with three quick wickets. First Hussey mistimed his shot and Charl Langeveldt made a diving catch to send him back to the pavilion for 23 with the score 180 for four. Australia had added five runs before Brad Hodge nicked another Ntini delivery behind to be caught by Mark Boucher for 41.
Ntini claimed the key wicket of Adam Gilchrist, who had made just six. He edged a delivery to Herschelle Gibbs at second slip. Nel then made Andrew Symonds put an inside edge on to his own stumps for 13 to leave Australia on 210 for seven. Shane Warne and Brett Lee briefly steadied the ship, moving the score past 240 before Langeveldt took Warne lbw for 24.
When Nathan Bracken was caught by Boucher off Nel three overs later the end was nigh, and the innings was over without a run being added as Glenn McGrath was out for a duck.
South Africa enjoyed a strong start to their own innings in the remaining seven overs, as AB de Villiers (14) and Graeme Smith (18) took them to 38 without loss.
Test match Scoreboard
Australia: First innings
J Langer c Smith b Ntini 37
M Hayden c Rudolph b Ntini 0
R Ponting lbw b Pollock 71
B Hodge c Boucher b Ntini 41
M Hussey c Langeveldt b Ntini 23
A Symonds b Nel 13
A Gilchrist c Gibbs b Ntini 6
S Warne lbw b Langeveldt 24
B Lee not out 19
N Bracken c Boucher b Nel 10
G McGrath c Boucher b Nel 0
Extras (b-4 lb-2 nb-6 w-2) 14
Total (all out, 75.2 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-111, 3-117, 4-180, 5-185, 6-199, 7-210, 8-243, 9-258, 10-258.
Bowling: S. Pollock 19 - 6 - 46 - 1; M. Ntini 19 - 3 - 64 - 5; C. Langeveldt 17 - 1 - 100 - 1 (nb-6); A. Nel 17.2 - 3 - 29 - 3; J. Kemp 3 - 0 - 13 - 0 (w-2).
South Africa: First innings
A de Villiers not out 14
G Smith not out 18
Extras (nb-6) 6
Total (for no loss, 7 overs) 38
To bat: H. Gibbs, J. Rudolph, A. Prince, J. Kemp, M. Boucher, S. Pollock, C. Langeveldt, A. Nel, M. Ntini
Bowling: G. McGrath 4 - 0 - 18 - 0; B. Lee 2 - 0 - 15 - 0 (nb-2); N. Bracken 1 - 0 - 5 - 0.
