Michael Clarke and Dale Steyn exchange words after the controversial decision. Source: Getty Images
INSINUATIONS of ball tampering from both sides continued to blight the series, with Australia warned by the umpires about how the ball was being treated during a tense final day of the third and deciding Test.
Shortly before lunch umpires Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena called captain Michael Clarke over and the three had an animated, arm-waving conversation.
Dar was holding the ball in one hand and appeared to be gesturing to it, however the ball was not changed and the umpires did not penalise Australia five runs, which they must do under the playing conditions if they believe the ball has been deliberately tampered with.
MATCH CENTRE: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE SCOREBOARD, STATS AND COMMENTARY
The Fox Sports cricket panel discuss suggestions that Australia's players attempted to alter the ball in the third Test by deliberately throwing it short in the field.
The problem appeared to be the Australians constantly throwing the ball into rough areas around the pitch and practice pitches.
Australia was struggling to close out the match on day five as South Africa hung on grimly to be 7-201 at tea trying to keep the series level at one-all.
Faf du Plessis was unable to repeat the heroics of Adelaide in 2012, when he defied Australia for seven and a half hours scoring an unbeaten century. On Wednesday he was leg before wicket to part time leg-spinner Sreve Smith for 47, made in two and a half hours.
Australia have been made to work for their wickets but came up trumps before lunch, dispatching of Kyle Abbott and AB de Villiers.
Ryan Harris claimed the valuable wicket of AB de Villiers with the second new ball shortly after lunch, caught behind for 43 scored in five and a half hours from 228 balls.
The only wicket to fall before lunch on day five was nightwatchman Kyle Abbott. He batted for almost two hours for just seven before leaving a ball from James Pattinson which came back to hit off stump.
After the conversation between Clarke and the umpires, Ryan Harris gestured to umpire Dharmasena, with the fast bowler rubbings his hands together in exaggerated fashion.
The Australians believe that South African wicketkeeper AB de Villiers helped rough the ball up during the second Test in Port Elizabeth by constantly rubbing it in his gloves.
Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers were thorns in Australia's side. Source: Getty Images
David Warner made the claim on Sydney radio and was fined $2900 by the International Cricket Council for making detrimental public comment. Warner was also disciplined by the Australian team hierarchy.
South Africa levelled the series at one-all in Port Elizabeth thanks to some brilliant reverse swing bowling.
It also became a hot issue in this Test when convicted ball tamper Faf du Plessis questioned how Australia was able to generate reverse swing so quickly.
James Pattinson gets this one just a little bit wrong striking the hand of Vernon Philander with a dangerous full toss
"I must be honest, I was really surprised to see the ball reverse from their side," du Plessis said after the third day. "I think it was 27 overs when the ball started reversing, especially after rain and a wet outfield (from the day before). I was really surprised by that, so … let's leave it at that."
Du Plessis was been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after he was found guilty of ball tampering in the second Test against Pakistan last October.
He was caught on camera rubbing the ball against a zip on his pocket, leading umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker to penalise South Africa five runs and change the ball.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR MATCH CENTRE
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Live: Aussies two wickets from win
Dengan url
https://duniadiggi.blogspot.com/2014/03/live-aussies-two-wickets-from-win.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Live: Aussies two wickets from win
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Live: Aussies two wickets from win
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar