CRICKET/SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA: JEAN-PAUL Duminy scored one of the finest maiden Test centuries in history to lead a South African fightback which was itself among the most unlikely ever to grace the MCG when he batted almost all of the third day here in the second Test. Australia were run ragged by his ninth-wicket stand of 180 with Dale Steyn, a record between the countries and the third highest ever.
The 24-year-old, generally known as plain "JP", was last man out for 166, having given his side a first-innings lead of 65, just a week after scoring the winning runs on his debut in South Africa's epic, 414-run chase to win the first Test in Perth.
Resuming on 34 with his side in the seemingly hopeless position of 198 for seven, still 196 runs behind, the left-hander received astonishing support from the fast bowler Steyn, who nearly doubled his previous Test best with a brave 76.
Despite a Mitchell Johnson bouncer that drew blood after smashing into his hands, Steyn reached his maiden Test half-century to go with the five wickets he took in Australia's first innings of 394.
Australia's main strike bowler, Brett Lee, was off for the day with a stress fracture of his left foot that will keep him out of the game for up to two months, and could end his career, but even so the lack of bite in the home attack was embarrassing.
Steyn has a solid defence and a withering straight drive and he happily limited himself to those shots while Duminy dominated.
The tourists, who can hardly lose the three-match series now, were helped by sloppy fielding from the Australians, who dropped Steyn three times.
Thankfully for the home side Matthew Hayden, potentially fighting for his career, and Simon Katich survived a testing two-over spell prior to stumps to leave Australia four without loss and trailing by 61 runs.
It had taken Australia until 20 minutes before the close to claim the last of the four wickets they needed to end South Africa's innings.
The Proteas, who resumed on 198 for seven, are now dreaming of a stunning victory just 24 hours after staring at a heavy defeat.
Duminy had shared a stand of 43 with Morne Morkel late on day two and added 67 with Paul Harris before uniting with Steyn.
Batting with the maturity of a veteran, Duminy, the last man out, served notice as a future Test star with an innings of pure class.
The 24-year-old momentarily lost his rhythm after lunch when, with Steyn dominating the strike, Nathan Hauritz kept him tied down. However, he emerged through that tricky period and, upon reaching the 90s, was gifted a five from four overthrows by the tiring Australian fielders.
He then recorded his century with a glorious cut shot, and, after rubbing salt into the wounds by edging Johnson for consecutive boundaries, posted his 150 with an exquisite on-drive that found the rope.
Despite batting with the tail, Duminy's faith in his partners did not waver until he was joined by last man Makhaya Ntini and they more than repaid his confidence.
Harris was the first to prosper, hitting a brisk 39 before the part-time medium pace of Michael Hussey brought about his downfall as he was caught in the deep by Johnson.
That wicket fell at 11.12am and it was not until 4.20pm - when number 10 Steyn was eventually dismissed - that the Australians would again celebrate.
Steyn was spared on 32 by Ponting, who put down a relatively simple chance at second slip, and a run later by Hussey, who failed to even lay a finger on a high ball after losing it in the sun.
Hauritz, the victim of the second chance, then had nobody to blame but himself when he failed to complete a return catch from Steyn on 57.
Three minutes shy of four hours at the crease, Steyn eventually lost concentration when he was bowled by Peter Siddle.
Duminy eventually fell to a tired shot when he was caught by Siddle square of the wicket off Hauritz.
