Doubt but out
Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fifth day of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Sydney
Peter English at the SCG
07-Jan-2009
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Video kills Kallis
It can't be the final day of a Sydney Test without a catching controversy and Jacques Kallis and Andrew McDonald were at the centre of an incident after 45 minutes. Kallis got a leading edge and McDonald dived to his right in his follow through, apparently getting one finger under the ball as he slid along the pitch. Billy Bowden gave Kallis out almost immediately, McDonald lay on the ground unsure and the batsman stood questioning the ruling. From the batsman's view the ball touched McDonald's finger before it slid briefly on to the ground; from the back and side angles the doubt was removed. Rod Tucker, the Australian third umpire, agreed with Bowden and Kallis was gone for 4.
It can't be the final day of a Sydney Test without a catching controversy and Jacques Kallis and Andrew McDonald were at the centre of an incident after 45 minutes. Kallis got a leading edge and McDonald dived to his right in his follow through, apparently getting one finger under the ball as he slid along the pitch. Billy Bowden gave Kallis out almost immediately, McDonald lay on the ground unsure and the batsman stood questioning the ruling. From the batsman's view the ball touched McDonald's finger before it slid briefly on to the ground; from the back and side angles the doubt was removed. Rod Tucker, the Australian third umpire, agreed with Bowden and Kallis was gone for 4.
Stranded below the summit
Kallis' confused end left him 12 short of 10,000 runs. He arrived in Australia needing 199 to reach the milestone, but will have to wait for the first Test of the return series, which begins in Johannesburg on February 28, for his next chance to get there. His best efforts over the past three games were 63 and 57 in Perth.
Kallis' confused end left him 12 short of 10,000 runs. He arrived in Australia needing 199 to reach the milestone, but will have to wait for the first Test of the return series, which begins in Johannesburg on February 28, for his next chance to get there. His best efforts over the past three games were 63 and 57 in Perth.
Lucky AB
AB de Villiers was unaware of an incredibly near miss on 2 when he attempted a pull off Mitchell Johnson. Unsure where the ball had gone after he top edged it, de Villiers held his shot pose as it sailed over his head and landed just behind the off stump. Another close call came with Paul Harris' first delivery, which he fended from Peter Siddle and it lobbed over the wickets.
AB de Villiers was unaware of an incredibly near miss on 2 when he attempted a pull off Mitchell Johnson. Unsure where the ball had gone after he top edged it, de Villiers held his shot pose as it sailed over his head and landed just behind the off stump. Another close call came with Paul Harris' first delivery, which he fended from Peter Siddle and it lobbed over the wickets.
Tough calls
South Africa's final-day push for a draw was not helped by Asoka de Silva's decision to give Mark Boucher lbw to a ball heading comfortably down the legside. Siddle had been brought back and his full toss was heading to fine-leg, but de Silva was convinced it was on line. Earlier in the day, Doug Bollinger had a few troubles trying to convince de Silva that the bowler was worth his first leg-before call of the game.
South Africa's final-day push for a draw was not helped by Asoka de Silva's decision to give Mark Boucher lbw to a ball heading comfortably down the legside. Siddle had been brought back and his full toss was heading to fine-leg, but de Silva was convinced it was on line. Earlier in the day, Doug Bollinger had a few troubles trying to convince de Silva that the bowler was worth his first leg-before call of the game.
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo