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Johnson has South Africa on the mat

Smith to miss third Test after fracturing finger

DURBAN: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took three wickets in his first over and forced South African captain Graeme Smith to retire hurt on a dramatic second day of the second Test at Kingsmead here on Saturday.

South Africa was 138 for seven at the close in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 352. J.P. Duminy waged a lone battle to remain unbeaten on 73.

Johnson took two wickets in his first over, then struck Smith with the third ball of his next over to throw the South African innings into disarray after the host had fought back earlier in the day, taking the last six Australian wickets for 49 runs, including the last five for four runs in 18 balls.

Meanwhile, South Africa captain Graeme Smith will miss the third and final Test against Australia after fracturing a finger, the team said on Saturday.

Smith retired hurt on two on the second day of the second test after being struck on the right glove by a delivery from Johnson.

“Graeme has suffered an undisplaced fracture of the little finger of the right hand and will be out of action for two to three weeks,” team spokesman Michael Owen-Smith told reporters.

“As far as this Test goes ... Graeme will only bat if required.”

Kallis hurt

Jacques Kallis was struck on the jaw by a bouncer from Johnson and retired hurt on 22. He back to bat but was dismissed by McDonald for the same score.

Kallis made 22 in a 50-run partnership with Duminy when Johnson, in the first over of his second spell, struck him on the jaw with a lifting delivery. He was led off the field bleeding.

His replacement, Mark Boucher, was bowled by Johnson off the last ball before tea.

Wickets tumbled after rain delayed the start of play by half an hour.

Australia collapsed from its overnight 303 for four to put South Africa right back into the match.

But then it was South Africa’s turn to collapse with its first two wickets falling for no runs in the first five balls.

Johnson had Neil McKenzie caught behind and then trapped Hashim Amla leg before, with Amla making an unsuccessful referral to the television umpire.

After Smith’s injury, A.B. de Villiers made only three before he was leg before to Ben Hilfenhaus; South Africa crashed to six for three. — Agencies

SCOREBOARD

Australia — 1st innings: P. Hughes c McKenzie b Kallis 115, S. Katich c Smith b Steyn 108, R. Ponting c McKenzie b Harris 9, M. Hussey b Morkel 50, M. Clarke b Harris 3, M. North c Steyn b Kallis 38, B. Haddin c Amla b Ntini 5, A. McDonald (not out) 4, M. Johnson lbw b Ntini 0, P. Siddle c Boucher b Steyn 0, B. Hilfenhaus c Smith b Steyn 0, Extras (b-6, lb-4, w-2, nb-8) 20; Total (in 107.4 overs) 352.

Fall of wickets: 1-184, 2-208, 3-259, 4-266, 5-329, 6-348, 7-348, 8-348, 9-352.

South Africa bowling: Steyn 25.4-3-83-3, Ntini 19-4-58-2, Morkel 24-4-81-1, Kallis 15-4-49-2, Harris 21-5-66-2, Duminy 3-1-5-0.

South Africa — 1st innings: N. McKenzie c Haddin b Johnson 0, G. Smith (retired hurt) 2, H. Amla lbw b Johnson 0, J. Kallis (retired hurt) 22, A.B. de Villiers lbw b Hilfenhaus 3, J. Duminy (batting) 73, M. Boucher b Johnson 1, P. Harris b McDonald 4, M. Morkel b McDonald 2, D. Steyn (batting) 8, Extras (b-10, lb-12, nb-1) 23; Total (for seven wkts. in 57 overs) 138.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-6, 4-62, 5-104, 6-104, 7-106.

Australia bowling: Johnson 16-5-37-3, Hilfenhaus 11-2-28-1, McDonald 12-4-25-3, Siddle 13-6-20-0, North 4-2-6-0, Clarke 1-1-0-0.

Corrections and Clarifications

In a cricket report "Johnson has South Africa on the mat" ("Sport", March 8, 2009), the first paragraph said Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took three wickets in his first over and forced South African captain Graeme Smith to retire hurt on the second day of the second Test at Kingsmead on Saturday. He had taken only two wickets in his first over. The ninth paragraph was right in saying that Jacques Kallis, struck on the jaw by a bouncer from Johnson and retired hurt on 22, came back to bat but was dismissed by McDonald for the same score. The scoreboard recorded it as Kallis (retired hurt).

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