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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 14 points; SA loses 14 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 SA gains 8 points; AUS loses 8 points
SA win 3 - 0 SA gains 31 points; AUS loses 31 points
Cape Town
16 - 18 March 2006
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision proved a poor one, with de Villiers (8) bowled at 1 for 24, followed by Smith (19), Kallis (6) and Gibbs (18) before South Africa went to lunch in trouble at 4 for 66. South Africa managed to lift the scoring rate to almost three runs per over during the afternoon session, but at the cost of Rudolph (10), Boucher (16), Prince (17) and Hall (24). By tea, South Africa was in serious trouble with the score 8 for 155. South Africa lost Boje (31) before they managed to pass 200 and when Nell (18) was eventually trapped in front, South Africa was all out for 205 runs. Stuart Clark, on debut, was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 55 of 17 overs. Australia began their reply and lost Langer (16) when he was trapped in front at 1 for 21 before ending the day with a firm advantage at 1 for 63.
Australia cemented their advantage on the second morning, adding 112 runs for the loss of only Ponting (74) on the stroke of lunch when the score was 2 for 175. With the deficit only 30 runs, the Australians had the opportunity to make a match winning first innings lead. However, South Africa instead fought back and picked up wickets at regular intervals through the afternoon session. South Africa caught Hayden (94) before Australia took the lead and then Hussey (6) was caught just after at 4 for 212. Later Martyn (22) and Gilchrist (12) were also caught before Australia went to tea well placed at 6 for 273 with a lead of 68 runs. South Africa then made short work of the tail, dismissing Symonds (55), Lee (0), Warne (7) and Clark (8) to have Australia all out for 308 runs. Kallis was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 51 off 12 overs. South Africa then began the task of erasing the 103 run deficit, but lost de Villiers (7) and Gibbs (0) in the fourth over to be in trouble at 2 for 20. Australia later trapped Smith (16) in front at 3 for 37 before South Africa recovered somewhat to be 3 for 70 at stumps, still 33 runs in arrears.
Australia made a telling blow in the second over of the third day when Kallis (36) was caught behind at 4 for 75. South Africa then lost Prince (27) just before retaking the lead, but Boucher (2) fell straight afterwards at 6 for 108 before the home side went to lunch at 6 for 127, with a lead of only 24 runs. Australia had the momentum and during the hour after lunch they dismissed Rudolph (41), Boje (14), Nel (4) and Ntini (4) to have South Africa all out for 197 runs. Clark was again the best of the bowlers with 4 for 34 off 16 overs, giving him 9 for 89 on debut. Australia then began their chase for the 95 runs needed for victory. By tea, Australia was no wicket for 24. Australia moved inexorably toward victory, but after taking the total to 71 runs, had an attack of the wobbles and lost Hayden (32), Langer (34) and Ponting (1) in the space of five runs. However, Martyn (9*) and Hussey (14*) saw the tourists home by seven wickets.
Second Test
Durban
24 - 28 March 2005
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.� South Africa struck early and dismissed Hayden (0) in the second over.� However, that was the home side's only success of the morning and by Lunch, the match was evenly poised with the score 1 for 74.� South Africa dismissed Langer (35) during the first hour after lunch, but was again unable to gain momentum.� By tea, Australia was slowly building a small advantage with the score 2 for 138.� Australia continued on for an hour after tea as Ponting posted his 29th Test century.� However, Ponting (103) was caught straight afterwards at 3 for 198 and South Africa inflicted a mini-collapse in the final hour to pull the game back to a level position.� After dismissing Martyn (57) and nightwatchman Lee (0), Australia was 5 for 228 when bad light stopped play.
Australia spent the first hour of the second morning consolidating and took the score to 5 for 253 at drinks.� However, Symonds (13) was trapped in front straight afterwards and Gilchrist (2) followed six runs later as Australia slumped to 7 for 259.� However, South Africa was unable to dismiss Hussey, the only recognised batsman left, and he managed to bat with Warne through until lunch when the score was 7 for 311.� South Africa caught Warne soon after lunch at 8 for 315 and Kasprowicz (7) at 9 for 327.� However, Clark (13*) and Hussey added another crucial 42 runs before Hussey (75) was trapped in front.� Australia was all out for 369 runs while Ntini (3 for 81 off 24 overs) and Nel (3 for 83 off 31 overs) shared the bowling honours.� South Africa began their reply and immediately lost Smith (0) and Gibbs (9) to be 2 for 10.� By tea, South Africa had recovered to be 2 for 43.� South Africa then managed to bat through the evening session without further loss to end the day with honours even and the score 2 for 140, still 229 runs in arrears.
Australia caught de Villiers (50) early on the third morning at 3 for 144 and then Prince (33) was caught in the second hour before Kallis posted his 24th Test century.� At lunch, South Africa was 4 for 221, still 148 runs in arrears.� Australia gained a significant advantage during the afternoon session when they ran through the final six wickets for only 41 runs.� After Rudolph (13), Kallis (114), Pollock (1), Nel (5) and Ntini (0) were dismissed, South Africa was all out at tea for 267 runs, conceding a first innings lead to Australia of 102 runs.� Lee was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 69 off 19.4 overs, his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests.� Australia then began adding to their lead and, despite losing Langer (37) at 1 for 49, managed to end the day in complete control at 1 for 125, with an overall lead of 227 runs.
Australia batted though the fourth morning session without losing a wicket.� By lunch, Australia was 1 for 216, with an overall lead of 318 runs.� During the afternoon session, Hayden (102) posted his 26th Test century before being caught at 2 for 250. Meanwhile, Ponting posted his 30th Test century and became the second man to make a century in each innings of a Test on three occasions.� Ponting (116) was then caught at 3 for 278 and when Gilchrist (24) holed out on only his ninth delivery, Australia declared at 4 for 307.� Boje was the more successful bowler with 2 for 87 off 26.4 overs.� South Africa then began their unlikely chase for the 410 runs required for victory and went to tea at no wicket for 19 runs.� Soon after play resumed, the umpires offered the light and South Africa finished the day at 0 for 29, needing a further 381 runs on the final day for victory.
South Africa showed some interest early on the final morning in chasing the victory target.� However, after taking the total to 91 runs at almost four runs per over, de Villiers (46) was stumped and then Smith (40) was caught seven runs later.� Australia made a significant double breakthrough late in the session when Kallis (7) and Gibbs (17) were both dismissed with only 122 runs on the board.� By lunch, all hope of victory had left South Africa with the score 4 for 128.� Australia maintained the pressure during the evening session and at regular intervals dismissed Prince (7), Rudolph (36) and Pollock (4).� By tea, South Africa was tottering toward defeat at 7 for 191.� While the light began to fade, South Africa held out until the wicket of Boje (48) at 8 for 253 triggered a final slide.� Once Nel (14) and Ntini (0) were dismissed in the space of five runs, South Africa was all out for 297 runs while Boucher remained not out on 51 runs.� Warne was the pick of the bowlers with 6 for 86 off 35.5 overs, his 35th five-wicket haul, while Australia claimed victory by 112 runs.
Third Test
Johannesburg
31 March - 4 April 2006
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.� After a slow start, openers de Villiers (12) and Gibbs (16) were dismissed in the space of twelve runs and South Africa was on the back foot at 2 for 38.� South Africa then consolidated and by lunch they had recovered somewhat to be 2 for 67.� South Africa continued to build, but Australia delivered a double blow by catching Dippenaar (32) and bowling Kallis (37) in the space of nine runs for South Africa to again be in trouble at 4 for 106.� South Africa then batted through to be 4 for 140 at tea.� After tea, Australia caught Rudolph (25) and trapped Boucher (24) in front in the half hour prior to bad light being offered and South Africa ended that day at 6 for 238.
Australia struggled to quickly wrap up the tail on the second morning.� Eventually, after over an hour of play, Australia dismissed Pollock (8), Prince (93), Nel (0) and Boje (43) to have South Africa all out for 303 runs.� Lee (3 for 57 off 24 overs) and Clark (3 for 81 off 28 overs) shared the bowling honours.� Australia began their reply and Justin Langer, in his 100th Test, was felled first ball by a bouncer that caught him behind the ear on the helmet and retired hurt with concussion.� The incident clearly impacted on the team and Hayden (3) was caught soon afterwards at 1 for 12.� By lunch, Australia was 1 for 47.� During the afternoon session, South Africa gained significant momentum and dismissed a cavalier Martyn (21), Ponting (34), Symonds (4) and Gilchrist (12) for the addition of only 94 runs.� At tea, Australia was in some trouble at 5 for 141, still 162 runs in arrears.� South Africa was able to catch Warne (36) and trap Hussey (73) in front before bad light stopped play with the score 7 for 246 and Australia still 57 runs in arrears.
On the third morning, South Africa caught Kasprowicz (2) and Lee (64) for a career best high score, to have Australia all out for 270 runs as Langer remained unable to participate.� Ntini was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 100 off 18.5 overs, his eleventh five-wicket haul in Tests.� South Africa began adding to their first innings lead of 33 runs, but lost de Villiers (4) at 1 for 9 and Dippenaar (20) at 2 for 55.� South Africa later went to lunch at 2 for 83, with an overall lead of 116 runs.� Australia managed to catch Gibbs (53) shortly after play resumed but then struggled of over an hour.� However, the wicket of Prince (9) at 4 for 120 led to a collapse, with Kallis (27) and Rudolph (0) falling in the space of 20 runs for the home side to be in some trouble at 6 for 140.� By tea, South Africa was 6 for 160 with an overall lead of 193 runs.� South Africa managed to bat themselves into a greater level of comfort after tea.� Despite losing Pollock (44) and Boje (4), South Africa added another 90 runs to their lead to end the day at 8 for 250 and an imposing overall lead of 283 runs.
Australia took 15 balls on the fourth morning to dismiss Boucher (63) and Ntini (0) to have South Africa all out for 258 runs.� Clark was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 64 off 18 overs.� Australia then began their task of amassing 292 runs for victory badly, given that Langer was still unavailable, by losing Hayden (0) in the second over.� Then South Africa claimed the prized wicket of Ponting (20) at 2 for 33 before Australia went to lunch at 2 for 54.� After lunch, it became increasingly clear that Australia had discarded their usual approach of attempting to dominate the bowlers and were prepared to take as much of the next five sessions as needed to reach the target.� Australia sedately batted through the afternoon session to be 2 for 163 at tea, only 129 from victory.� South Africa dismissed Hussey (89) half an hour after tea and then the wicket of Symonds (29) saw a mini-collapse with Gilchrist (0) and Warne (3) all falling in the space of nine runs.� South Africa had got themselves significantly back into the match with Australia 6 for 248, still 44 runs short of victory and Langer unable to bat.
On the final morning, Martyn posted his 13th Test century and then got trapped in front at 7 for 258, still 34 runs short.� South Africa then caught Clark (10) at 9 for 275, still 17 runs short.� That brought Lee and Kasprowicz together in a similar position to the Ashes Test six months previously where they fell two runs short of victory.� In this case, however, Kasprowicz (7*) and Lee (24*) managed the task and secured victory by two wickets, saving a padded up Langer from having to risk further injury and Ponting the decision of whether to declare rather than let Langer bat.� Ntini was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 78 off 26 overs.
