MELBOURNE, 30 December 2005 — Andrew Symonds featured with both bat and ball yesterday to propel Australia to the brink of victory over South Africa at the close of the fourth day of the second Test. With one day remaining South Africa were 99 for six in their second innings chasing 366 to win. Symonds, under pressure to retain his Test place after a run of low scores, smashed a Test best 72 then dismissed Jacques Kallis (9) and Jacques Rudolph (4). He combined with Matthew Hayden (137) in a 124-run partnership off 93 balls in just 66 minutes after lunch to help Australia to 321 for seven declared.

When South Africa batted, Symonds took two for six from four overs and leg spinner Shane Warne grabbed the wickets of A.B. de Villiers (8), Herschelle Gibbs (9) and Mark Boucher (5). Resuming on 110 for two, Australia lost Brad Hodge (24) and Mike Hussey (31) before Hayden and Symonds went on the offensive after lunch. Their assault on the South African attack allowed captain Ricky Ponting to declare with 45 minutes remaining in the second session.

Ponting had been criticized for delaying the declaration and not giving his bowlers enough time to dismiss the South Africans in the drawn first Test. Symonds’ first scoring shot was a six over long off then Hayden, who had been on 86 not out at lunch, scored his 25th Test century when he square cut Shaun Pollock for four.

The pair then set about the South African attack, smashing several boundaries before Hayden mistimed a pull shot off Kallis and wicketkeeper Boucher took the steepling catch.

Gilchrist was the third victim in Kallis’ 11th over when he skied a catch to Prince in the deep the ball after Symonds’ dismissal. Kallis finished with three for 58. Smith and de Villiers began solidly but a stumping by Gilchrist of the right-handed de Villiers off Warne with the score on 39 sparked a collapse. Smith was caught by Gilchrist on six runs later before Gibbs was bowled by Warne to leave South Africa in trouble at 58 for three.

Pakistan Should Prepare Bouncy

Tracks Against India: Wasim

In Karachi, former cricket great Wasim Akram yesterday advised Pakistan to prepare bouncy tracks in next month’s home series against India to unnerve the visitors’ strong batting lineup. “The advantage of pitches is with Pakistan, they have a transformed Shoaib Akhtar who can rock the Indians on hard pitches,” the former Pakistan captain told AFP.

Akhtar, considered to be the world’s fastest bowler, took 17 wickets to help Pakistan beat favorite England 2-0 in a Test series early this month. “With his pace and accuracy Akhtar can target any Indian batsman, and more so Saurav Ganguly,” said Akram.

Akram said Pakistan would have to play positive cricket to avenge the home series defeat it suffered when India last toured Pakistan in 2004, their first since 1989-90.

Pakistan Switch Venues

for One-Day Matches

Pakistan has switched the venues for the first two One-Day Internationals against India in February for security reasons, the director of operations for the Pakistan Cricket Board Saleem Altaf said yesterday. Altaf told Reuters the first match would be played in Rawalpindi on Feb. 6 and the second in Peshawar two days later. The first match was originally scheduled for Peshawar and the second for Pindi.

Altaf said police in Pindi had informed the board they did not have enough people to staff the match.