ttritional South African batting and insipid Australian catching could not prevent the pace triumvirate of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus from positioning the tourists within four wickets of a series-clinching victory at the lunch break. In claiming a wicket apiece with the second new ball, Australia's pace attack - with a little help from the occasional wrist-spin of Simon Katich - reduced South Africa to 307 for 6, still trailing by a now insurmountable 238 with two sessions remaining.
Australia's quest for a third consecutive Test victory over the South Africans began inauspiciously, with Michael Clarke turfing Jacques Kallis to a straightforward chance at point. The reprieve was Kallis' second from the bowling of Siddle - the first coming from his first ball faced on Monday - and prompted dejected looks among the Australian fieldsmen. Johnson, though, ensured the mistake would not fester, removing the South African allrounder in the next over with a shorter, angling delivery that deflected off the outside edge and came to rest in the sure hands of Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Siddle was soon rewarded for his persistence with the wicket of the dangerous AB de Villiers, effectively terminating the South African resistance. This match is shaping as Siddle's finest on the international stage, and his delivery to de Villiers - fast, angling in, seaming away and shaving the edge - was from the very top shelf. South Africa were 279 for 4 midway through the session, and fighting for survival.
The hosts benefited from another reprieve when the luckless Siddle watched forlornly as Haddin spilled JP Duminy diving to his left. But, again, reinforcements were close at hand, and Ben Hilfenhaus promptly accounted for him with a short, sharp delivery that deflected from the gloves and flew to Haddin, no doubt grateful for his chance at redemption.
