da realsbet： Paul Harris, the South Africa spinner, said their task on this occasion was more difficult than in Perth because of the tough conditions, and Tim Nielsen is in no doubt Australia are in the stronger position
Brydon Coverdale at the Wanderers01-Mar-2009
Paul Harris thinks South Africa have what it takes to pull off a record chase © Getty Images
Ten weeks after South Africa rewrote the rules on gettable targets, thememory of the WACA Test is still hanging over both teams with a day toplay in Johannesburg. The situation is eerily familiar, if slightlymore in Australia’s favour. South Africa need another 276 runs witheight wickets in hand; at stumps on day four in Perth they required187 with seven wickets remaining.At the WACA, they made the second-highest chase in Test history byreaching 414; here they will need to create a new record afterAustralia set them 454 to win. But such have been the battles betweenthese two teams over the past three months that it is impossible towrite South Africa off, especially with Hashim Amla and Jacques Kalliswell set and the Perth heroes AB de Villiers and JP Duminy to come.South Africa’s openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie gave their sidethe perfect start by reaching 76 without loss and Australia’sinability to extract much swing from the new ball was a key factor.But Paul Harris, the South Africa spinner, said their task on this occasion was more difficult than in Perth because of the tough conditions.”There’s quite a bit more in this wicket than there was in Perth,”Harris said. “I think the second new ball [available in 25 overs] willprobably end up being key. If we can get to that second new ballwithout any damage then I think we’ve got a good chance. We have toplay really well, history is against us. But if there’s a group ofguys that can do that then this one’s proved that they are the ones todo it.”Australia were hoping to set a marginally higher target but theirplans were scuppered by an incredible opening session in which theylost eight wickets. Their coach Tim Nielsen said he was in no doubt which side was in the stronger position after four days.”They need everything to go their way, I still feel,” Nielsen said.”We didn’t want to bat last on this wicket and I think it will stillbe a little bit up and down tomorrow. I’ll say it till I go to thegrave, if we’ve got 430 in the fourth innings of every Test match, I’lltake it every day of the week.”That Australia have found themselves in such a strong position withone of their least-experienced sides in recent memory is an impressiveachievement. Although the young attack of Mitchell Johnson, BenHilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Andrew McDonald battled to make majorinroads in the second innings, Nielsen said the team had stood upsuperbly over the first four days.”If we do win this game, the mental state of this young side will beover the top, it will be amazing,” he said. “We’re not even thinkingabout losing. We’ll think about that when the time comes. I can’t seeanything but us winning this game. I’m really excited about the fact ayoung team has gotten themselves into a position to win a Test matchon day five.”I thought the decision to bat on the first morning was a courageousdecision. The wicket looked a little underdone and the weather wasagainst us. For us to fight out 460-odd with Marcus North, on hisdebut, getting a hundred, was a fantastic effort. And then a youngbowling attack did a great job in the first innings. We’ve seen alittle bit of inconsistency today but if we can get back to playinggood strong cricket, we’re right in the driving seat. I’m really proudof the kids.”