Australia in favorable position against S. Africa

By Vic Mills

SYDNEY (JP): Shane Warne with five wickets and Mark Waugh with an unbeaten 78 played Australia into a strong position against South Africa on the second day of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.

With rain bringing proceedings to halt five minutes before stumps, Australia was three for 174 in reply to the Proteas' 287 all out.

Hansie Cronje set the pattern on a sultry morning by driving the first ball from Paul McGrath through the covers for four. Taking the lead from his captain, Shaun Pollock followed with consecutive boundaries off Paul Reiffel.

The unexpected flurry of runs saw Mark Taylor turn to Shane Warne after just 25 minutes. Back to his bubbly, bouncy best, Warne immediately began to extract sharp spin from the second-day pitch.

His leg stump attack soon proved too much for Pollock (18) who, looking to play through the on side, edged a catch to Taylor at slip. In attempting to execute the same shot, Dave Richardson (6) was bowled off stump, by a ball that pitched outside leg, to leave South Africa 236 for seven.

Cronje still looked to take the fight to Australia, however, and in new batsman Pat Symcox found the perfect ally. In differing styles, the pair added 41 in even time for the eighth wicket until the leg spinner struck again.

Having switched ends to aid his drift, Warne enticed Cronje (88) to drive a delivery that swung and spun to present Taylor with his third catch of the innings. The Proteas' captain fully deserved the applause having held the innings together for five- and-a-half hours.

The wicket was Warne's 292nd in 63 Tests, moving him second ahead of Craig McDermott on the all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers for Australia. Only Dennis Lillee with 355 in 70 Tests has taken more.

Not that Warne was finished as he soon had the belligerent Symcox (29) snared by Ian Healy with the flipper. Without addition, the same delivery accounted for Paul Adams (0) and South Africa were all out five minutes before lunch for 287.

Australia had fought back well after their lackluster performance on the first day and none more so than Warne who led the team off to a standing ovation with figures of 5-75 from 32.1 overs (5-29 from 10.1 overs in the session).

Mark Taylor and Matthew Elliott began the Australian reply in positive fashion taking 19 off Allan Donald's first four overs. With the strike bowler leaving the field for treatment to an injury, Cronje turned to Symcox.

Swinging ball

Pollock, meanwhile, bowling into a freshening southerly had Taylor in difficulty with the swinging ball. Appearing to have weathered the storm, Taylor (11) cut loosely at a ball of full length and Richardson gleefully took the catch to leave Australia one for 35.

Symcox, by now, was beginning to trouble both Elliott and Greg Blewett with his finger spin. The opener brought up the fifty with a fortuitous edge, but Symcox had his revenge when, with the score on 59, Elliott (32) played airily at a ball that spun across his bat and Brian McMillan took the catch moving to his left at slip.

Fluent start had now turned to nervous attrition as both Symcox and left-arm unorthodox spinner, Adams, teased the batsmen with flight and spin. With the floodlights on under graying skies, Blewett (19) and Mark Waugh (11) saw Australia cautiously through to tea on 78 for two.

The day, and perhaps the Test itself, turned Australia's way after the interval as Mark Waugh embarked on an innings of great quality. He signaled his intent with a huge six onto Yabba's Hill off Symcox.

South Africa briefly threatened when, with the score on 103, Brian McMillan induced a loose drive that Blewett (28) dragged back onto his stumps.

The delight was short lived, however, as Waugh promptly hit the burly medium pacer for three consecutive fours. With brother Steve acting as junior partner, Mark cut loose in the final hour with a series of exquisite drives, cuts and his much-favored pick-up through square leg.

With rain falling at the close, the Waugh twins had taken their fourth wicket partnership to 71 with Australia 174 for three.