South Africa v Australia, Fifth Test

Centurion Park

SAF: Richards, *Goddard, Bland, RG Pollock, AD Nourse, Rhodes, +Waite, Procter, Tayfield, Donald, Adcock.

AUS: Woodfull, Taylor, Harvey, GS Chappell, McCabe, Border, +Healy, *Benaud, Davidson, Thomson, Johnston.

A capacity crowd at Centurion Park welcomed Trevor Goddard's all-conquering heroes for the final Test, and their scorecards would have shown two changes from Durban, with the fit-again Donald replacing Heine and Colin Bland coming in at three for hamstring victim Bruce Mitchell. Allan Border made the tourists' starting XI despite the ankle injury he picked up in the last Test, but Dennis Lillee missed out with a shoulder strain, Jeff Thomson replacing him as he had done in the series opener in Cape Town.

Trevor Goddard had no hesitation in batting upon winning the toss, but a rain lashed morning session ended with South Africa on a hesitant 37-1, Barry Richards (16) the man out, and progress was again slow in the afternoon as Australia's seamers bowled with admirable application. Goddard (33) and Nourse (5) both flashed catches into the slip cordon off Johnston and Chappell respectively, whilst the key wicket of Graeme Pollock was claimed courtesy of a brilliant piece of fielding from McCabe, whose direct hit at the bowler's end sent Pollock on his way for just 4 after Bland changed his mind over a possible single.

South Africa were a disappointing 90-4 at tea, and despite a hard-hit 44 from Procter they never really recovered. Bland laboured two and a half hours for just 18, Rhodes showed promise before Johnston cleaned him up for 20, and Procter fell victim to the second direct hit run out of the innings, this time from Allan Border.

The Springboks' innings eventually ended on 193 early on day two, and although the home team could now call upon the services of both Jonty Rhodes and Colin Bland in the field, they would have to work hard to match Australia's efforts on the first day. Bill Johnston had again led the way with figures of 4-49, but as has been the recurring theme on this tour, his work was quickly undermined as Donald picked up the scalps of both Taylor (7) and Woodfull (14) before the break for lunch.

Harvey batted brightly after the break, but on 37 he became the victim of yet another poor decision from the officials, umpire Kidson giving him out lbw to Goddard despite what seemed an obvious inside edge onto the pad, and at 68-3 Australia looked vulnerable. Stan McCabe did not help the cause when he was bowled for 14 playing no stroke against Tayfield, and on the stroke of tea Tayfield struck once more when Chappell again failed to capitalize on a good start, snared by Nourse at silly point for 32.

Australia were now 123-5 and still 70 behind South Africa's paltry first innings total, but Allan Border and the in-form Ian Healy took the tourists to their first 1st innings lead of the series with a vital 85 run partnership for the sixth wicket as the evening session produced 105 runs for Richie Benaud's team. Border eventually fell to Goddard for 58, but Healy remained unbeaten with his third fifty in four innings since replacing the injured Marsh, and if Australia can build on their 35 run lead tomorrow they may yet be able to salvage some pride from what has been an otherwise disastrous series.

Close of Play, Day 2
SAF 1st Inns 193 (Procter 44; Johnston 4-49)
AUS 1st Inns 228-6 (Healy 58*, Border 58)