Follow UsDespite being a human construct, time has often been their biggest enemy, especially in sports, where time is designed brilliantly to lend an entertainment quotient. A brilliant exhibition of this timeless tussle was on show when Australia hosted South Africa at the Adelaide Oval for the second Test, which started on November 22, 2012.
Having drawn the first Test, the hosts wanted to take an early lead in the series, and they started well banking on David Warner’s 119-run knock, following a few initial hiccups. After Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney and Ricky Ponting returned to the pavilion after adding a combined 14 runs, Michael Clarke’s magnificent 230 alongside Michael Hussey’s 103 sailed Australia’s boat to safety.
James Pattinson added 42 more runs coming down the order, further making Australia’s defeat in the game a far-fetched idea, as the hosts tallied 550 runs in their first dig.
Morne Morkel was the pick of the South African bowlers with a five-fer as Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis pitched in with two scalps each. However, it was less than half the job done as South African batters started the long haul just before lunch. A strong 138-run opening stand looked to put the visitors in a good position before quick wickets of Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla saw them end Day 2 on 217 for 2 after 67 overs.
Captain Graeme Smith was standing strong on 111 alongside Jacques Rudolph (29), and the match was seemingly heading towards another draw. But, Day 3 came with surprises as Smith and Rudolph were dismissed after jointly adding just 16 runs on the board, and the likes of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, and Rory Kleinveldt soon followed suit.
Debutant Faf du Plessis, who was brought in to replace JP Duminy, held his end alongside an injured Kallis for the eighth wicket. By the time du Plessis was eventually dismissed, South Africa had tallied 388 runs.
Australia started their second innings after Tea with a 162-run lead, but the pitch had started favouring the bowlers by the third day, and South Africa’s struggle was reflected in Australia’s batting as well. The hosts ended Day 3 on 111 for 5, with Warner, Quiney, Ponting, Cowan, and Siddle all sent back by Kleinveldt and Steyn.
A gritty 54 by captain Clarke and yet another late 29 by Pattinson saw the hosts reach 267 for 8 runs in 70 overs on Day 4, following which Australia declared setting the Proteas 429 with one and half days to go on a tricky turf that showed good movement.
However, just when South Africa were looking at their skipper to get another big knock, Smith departed for a duck, and Amla followed. In fact, South Africa ended Day 4 on a precarious note of 77 for 4, with a win virtually impossible. At the crease remained de Villiers and du Plessis, who weren’t expected to last the entire Day 5, with Australia set to wrap it up before the day’s end.
Instead, the Adelaide crowd was treated to a classic on November 26, 2012. While de Villers exemplified resilience, scoring 33 runs in 220 balls, du Plessis remained a warrior undefeated. The debutant would first forge an 89-run stand with de Villiers before standing alongside an injured Kallis for a 99-run partnership.
However, just when du Plessis thought he had done enough, Peter Siddle removed Steyn and Kleinveldt to reduce the visitors to 240 for 8 in the 144th over. Du Plessis and Morne Morkel had to survive four more overs, with the hosts now bowling with a renewed purpose.
Clarke kept the in-form Nathan Lyon and Siddle for the final four run-ins, and while a well-set du Plessis saw off the spinner, Morkel was comfortable against Siddle’s pace. The bowling all-rounder even hit Siddle for consecutive boundaries in the last over to end the match at 248 and produce an epic draw.