Australia reached lunch on Day One of the third Test on 66 for two against South Africa but it could have been a whole lot worse for the tourists.
Australia reached lunch on Day One of the third Test on 66 for two against South Africa but it could have been a whole lot worse for the tourists.
Openers Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich rode their luck, helped by sloppy work in the field, with the latter still there at the interval on 26.
Hughes went for 33 and captain Ricky Ponting followed in the next over without troubling the scorers as the Proteas bowlers picked up some reward for their toil shortly before the break.
After winning his sixth successive toss against the South Africans, Ponting opted to bat first in Cape Town as his team look to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
Makhaya Ntini had a loud shout for lbw against Katich in the eighth over, but it was turned down by umpire Asad Rauf. The home team referred the decision but to no avail.
The fast bowler had reason to feel aggrieved against the same batsman in the 14th over when Katich was dropped on nine by debutant Imraan Khan at backward point.
Katich survived a further scare midway through the 22nd over when Test debutant Albie Morkel thought he had him caught behind by Mark Boucher, but umpire Rauf was not moved and the South Africans this time opted not to go for the review.
Hughes was then dropped on 33 by JP Duminy at short cover off Paul Harris but his reprieve lasted only two balls before the slow left-armer snared his man lbw.
The following over, the Proteas picked up the prize scalp of Ponting, who was on the receiving end of a fine outswinger from Morkel and edged behind to Boucher.
Michael Hussey joined Katich in the middle and was unbeaten on five by the end of the session.
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