Proteas fight back

12 April 2012

A much-improved bowling performance from South Africa helped them fight back on day two of the second Test against Australia as they dismissed the tourists for 352.

Only 49 runs were added for the final six wickets with Makhaya Ntini leading the charge for his side, claiming two wickets in two deliveries in the penultimate over before lunch.

Steyn then cleaned up the tail in four balls after the interval to end the innings after he and Morne Morkel had done the hard work early on with their disciplined line and length.

Play started 30 minutes late due to a wet outfield, but Australia made a steady start with overnight pair Mike Hussey and Marcus North raising the 50 partnership in the sixth over of the morning, before the former brought up his 14th half-century off 137 balls when he pushed Morkel just wide of cover for a quick single.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists as they were severely bogged down by Steyn and Morkel. South Africa's strike bowler was especially fiery knocking Hussey on the head in the 11th over of the day with a brutal bouncer and followed that up with two similar deliveries that clearly unsettled the Western Australian as the pair exchanged words.

And the very next over Morkel took full advantage when he put Hussey out of his misery with a full ball that cut through the batsman's defences, bowling him for 50.

North was next to go for 38, looking to clip Jacques Kallis onto the leg side, but he only succeeded in finding Steyn at square leg.

Ntini was then introduced and he had Brad Haddin out with just his ninth delivery - the Australian wicketkeeper pulling a shorter delivery from the bowler straight to Hashim Amla at midwicket for five.

The very next delivery Mitchell Johnson was trapped plumb in front for a first ball duck as tourists went into lunch clearly shaken by a rejuvenated South Africa.