Australia take control of second test

DURBAN, South Africa, Mar 25 (Reuters) Michael Hussey's steady batting and quick strikes by bowlers Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz earned Australia control of the second test against South Africa in Durban today.

Australia, who won the toss and chose to bat, were dismissed for 369.

South Africa had dwindled to 43 for two at tea on the second day.

Hussey was last out for 75 and Lee dismissed Graeme Smith with the first ball of South Africa's reply.

Kasprowicz reduced the home side to 10 for two when he bowled Herschelle Gibbs for nine.

AB de Villiers was 11 not out with Jacques Kallis on 19 at tea.

Hussey and Andrew Symonds scored just 25 runs in a slow first hour before fast bowler Andre Nel ended the stalemate with the first ball after drinks, a delivery that pitched on Symonds's off stump and seamed into the right hander to trap him in front for 13.

In Nel's next over Adam Gilchrist edged a lazy waft to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to be dismissed for two.

Australia's scoring rate was lifted almost immediately after Shane Warne took guard.

Warne faced only 27 balls for his 35 and he hit six fours as well as a towering six off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.

Hussey and Warne shared 56 runs off 75 balls for the eighth wicket before Warne drove a catch to De Villiers at cover to earn a wicket for seamer Shaun Pollock.

Stuart Clark, who was 12 not out, helped Hussey add 42 runs off as many balls for the last wicket.

Nel took three for 83, while fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took three for 81.

Smith played a ragged drive to the first ball of South Africa's reply, and edged the wide delivery to third slip, where Justin Langer held a good, head high catch.

Three overs later Gibbs had his off-stump uprooted.

De Villiers and Kallis looked solid, and they put on 33 runs for the unbroken third wicket.

REUTERS AY KN1934