Aussies pip Proteas at the wicket

THE Aussies yesterday repeated history and also defied it.

They are still unbeaten on South Africa soil in more than 40 years and they did so with a nail-biting two-wicket win, the same victory margin as five years ago at the same venue.

South Africa were eagerly seeking their first series win over Australia since 1970.

The Aussies yesterday won the second cricket test at the Wanderers by two wickets to square the two-match series 1-1. The last time Australia lost a series here was in 1970 when Ali Bacher's team defeated Bill Lawry's 4-0.

The Aussies also chased down the highest-winning total in a fourth innings to triumph yesterday. In 2006, when they also won at the Wanderers by two wickets, they made 294 which, until yesterday, was the record.

South Africa could have been said to have lost this match on the first day when they were all out for 266. Having won the first test at Newlands, they brought their winning momentum to the Wanderers, then fluffed in the first day's place.

Nevertheless, the Proteas bowlers fought back, restricting Australia to only a 30-run lead after Shane Watson and Phil Hughes had put on 174 runs without losing a wicket.

The Proteas looked to have sealed the game, or at least denied Australia a chance of victory, by making 339 in the second innings. They left Australia 310 to win. Surely they couldn't do it against a rampant South African attack?

But yesterday the Aussies proved otherwise. Led by fighting innings of 62 from Ricky Ponting, their formerly off-form star batsman, Australia made it. And Patrick Cummins, playing in his first test, crowned a wonderful debut by hitting the winning runs.