South Africa v Australia - Fifth Test, Day 5

It has been a case of "if it can go wrong, it will go wrong" for Australia on this tour, and on the final day of the trip it was the elements that appeared to be conspiring against the visitors. Rain allowed only forty minutes play before lunch, during which time Neil Harvey was well held in the slips by Nourse off Donald for 17, and at the interval Australia's total stood at 69-1, 110 runs away from victory.

The Aussies do not have a good record when it comes to chasing down small targets, and three further wickets fell in a rain-interrupted afternoon as the jitters set in once again. Donald claimed all three scalps as he continued a spell of sustained hostility from the Pavilion End, and when Woodfull departed for 43 on the stroke of tea, Australia had lost their anchor still 64 runs short of the finishing line.

The evening session began in light that would normally force the players from the field, but there was no way that Australia were going come off so close to their target. Healy (0) became Donald's fifth victim when he was bowled by a slower ball that he failed to pick up, and at 126-5 Australia were on the verge of blowing yet another fourth innings chase. However, Allan Border was still at the crease, and once fatigue finally forced Donald out of the attack, he was able to guide his team towards their target with Richie Benaud (8) the only other casualty before the magic figure of 179 was reached.

Australia had thus won by 4 wickets and had avoided being blanked by the Springboks, but victory in Centurion could not hide the fact that the once-invincible Green & Gold machine is still misfiring badly. South Africa now move into a tie with England for second place in the ATG rankings, both teams sitting just two points behind Australia at the top, and one feels that there will soon be a change at the top table in ATG cricket.

Close of Play, Day 5
SAF 1st Inns 193 (Procter 44; Johnston 4-49)
AUS 1st Inns 309 (Healy 79, Border 58, Benaud 46*; Goddard 5-70)
SAF 2nd Inns 294 (Waite 88*, Bland 62, Richards 58)
AUS 2nd Inns 179-6 (Border 49*, Woodfull 43; Donald 5-46)

AUSTRALIA WON BY 4 WICKETS


Man of the Match: AR Border