Just finished the 3rd and final test as South Africa vs Australia on Veteran at the SCG. And what a test it was. On a wicket that would definitely suit the spinners on day 5, I won the toss and chose to bat. There wasn't much movement for the seamers, but the spinner made things difficult. A brilliant hundred by AB and a great partnership between du Plessis and Elgar propelled me to a very competitive score of 407.
Australia started very well and my bowlers struggled. Rogers and Warner threatened to take the game away from me, but when Steyn bowled Warner with a brilliant inswinger, I started to claw my way back and took big wickets at crucial times. The tail wagged in the end, frustrating me to death, but at last I bowled them out for 354. Rogers top-scoring with a brilliant 120. I had a handy lead of 53.
I came out to bat and started well. A solid opening stand between Elgar and Peterson of 42, before Elgar nicked one from Lyon. Du Plessis joined Peterson at the wicket, and a brilliant partnership of 191 put me in control of the match, or so I thought. Peterson threw his wicket away after a brilliant knock of 111 and chipped a regular Lyon delivery straight to mid-on. Du Plessis fell agonisingly short of his 100 in the most unlucky of ways. Getting bowled by a bouncer, that ricocheted of the helmet onto the stumps. What followed was a mini collapse. I got bundled out for 316, trying to force a higher run-rate. Leaving Australia a target of 370 at around tea on day 4.
A brilliant spell by Philander early on, and Australia was 2 down in no time. Then Imran Tahir came on, and as I predicted, the pitch was starting to wear out. 3 wickets to Tahir and Australia were in tatters at the close of day 4, being 113/5, still needing a lot of runs.
Day 5 started and Australia made a solid start, but lost their 6th wicket on 158. They survived till lunch, but then lost two quick wickets in succession and suddenly they were 193/8. I thought the game was wrapped up. Then the tail started to wag. A brilliant partnership between Harris and Siddle made me very nervous. Finally just before tea Tahir struck, when Harris chipped a ball straight to mid-on! I screamed! Breaking an 80 run stand, and Australia were 277/9. Tahir had 5 wickets. After tea Lyon and Siddle stood firm. I was getting really nervous. They were getting closer to the target and my fast bowlers were fatigued. Time was also starting to run out, as 5pm passed. I had Tahir, and part-timer du Plessis on, trying desperately to get the final wicket, when at last du Plessis bowled to Siddle, just on legstump. Siddle played it on the legside, it was in the air, when Alviro Peterson took a blinder of a catch! Australia was all out for 332 at 5:19 PM, falling 37 runs short. I screamed again, more out of relieve than anything else.
I won the test match, and drawn the series 1-1. Thanks Big Ant for making this experience possible. You really created a special product!
It took great concentration and a lot of patience. I'm still trailing 1-0 in the 3 test series. Now heading to Sydney to try and draw the series.
(even if it does go against you).
