S Africa occupy box seat

South Africa amassed a huge first innings total and followed up with three Australian wickets to seize the momentum in the final Test at the...

South Africa amassed a huge first innings total and followed up with three Australian wickets to seize the momentum in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

The Proteas, trailing 1-0 and needing a win to square the three-match series, called a halt to their stoic 11-hour occupation of the crease at 451 for nine, giving themselves 15 overs to bowl at the Australians late on the second day.

And they were richly rewarded with Australia tottering on 54 for three at stumps. Ricky Ponting, playing in his 100th Test match, was on 11 and Brad Hodge out in the last over of the day for six. In the course of his innings, Ponting passed 8,000 Test runs.

Australia lost openers Matthew Hayden 4 and Justin Langer 25, both bowled by seamer Charl Langevelt. Then Hodge popped a catch to close-in fielder Jacques Rudolph off Andre Nel to give South Africa full reward for their calculated innings of attrition.

The South Africans, grafting at under three runs an over with Jacques Kallis 111 and Ashwell Prince 119 accumulating centuries, dawdled to their declaration off 154.4 overs. Home fans were frustrated by Australia8217;s inability to dominate despite their all-star bowling attack.

Kallis was rock-solid in reaching his 23rd Test hundred, his second against Australia, before he was caught by Glenn McGrath at fine leg off Andrew Symonds nearing lunch. He chiselled his runs off 275 balls in just a little over six hours with 17 boundaries. Kallis and Prince broke the previous record South African fourth wicket partnership, against Australia, of 206 between Charles Frank and Arthur Nourse.

Brief scores

South Africa

451/9 decl Smith 39, Kallis 111, Prince 119, Pollock 46; McGrath 2/65, Lee 3/82, Warne 2/106 Australia 54/3 Langer 25; Langeveldt 2/23.

Broad reprimand Lee for showing dissent

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Sydney: Brett Lee was today reprimanded after being found guilty of showing dissent during the third Test against South Africa at the SCG. Lee was reported by match umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden under the ICC code of conduct for 8220;showing dissent at an umpire8217;s decision by action or verbal abuse.8221; A Cricket Australia spokesman said Lee had been found guilty of the charge during a hearing after the second day8217;s play and had been officially reprimanded by ICC match referee Chris Broad. Lee had a heated discussion with Pakistani umpire Dar after his leg before wicket appeal against Jacques Kallis was turned down in the 27th over of yesterday8217;s opening day8217;s play.