MELBOURNE, 28 December 2005 — AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs crafted watchful half centuries to lead South Africa to 169 for two in reply to Australia’s 355 on the second day of the second Test yesterday.
De Villiers was trapped lbw by Glenn McGrath for 61 and Gibbs was unbeaten on 54 after Mike Hussey (122) and McGrath (11 not out) had combined in a 107-run 10th-wicket partnership to boost Australia’s first innings total.
Jacques Kallis, on 17, was the other not out batsman at the close. Captain Graeme Smith was the only other South African wicket to fall, lbw to Brett Lee for 22, and coach Mickey Arthur was pleased with his team’s position.
Hussey’s innings had earlier wrested the initiative away from the visitors in a partnership with McGrath that extended until the afternoon session. Resuming on 239 for eight after Andre Nel had taken four wickets to tear through Australia’s middle order late on Monday, the home side lost Stuart MacGill early when he was bowled by Makhaya Ntini for four to leave them struggling on 248 for nine.
McGrath was expected to fall quickly but he frustrated the South African bowlers with obstinate defense to provide the perfect counter-foil to Hussey. The 30-year-old Hussey, who was dropped on 27 by Jacques Kallis after adding just four to his overnight total, then protected McGrath magnificently, refusing singles before unleashing a succession of boundaries when the field was in. He brought up his third Test century when he paddled Nicky Boje to backward square for a single. Hussey, who made his debut this season against West Indies, has scored three centuries and a fifty for an average of 112.8 in nine innings.
