South Africa out for 303, Prince falls short of century

JOHANNESBURG, Apr 1 (Reuters) South Africa were dismissed for 303 runs on the second morning of the third and final test against Australia today, with Ashwell Prince falling just short of a century after top-scoring with 93.

In reply, Australia reached the interval on 47-1 with Damien Martyn on 21 and captain Ricky Ponting on 10.

Resuming on 238-6, South Africa added 65 runs to their overnight score before they were bowled out in the 19th over of the day with fast bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark leading the Australian attack with three wickets apiece in the innings.

Australia, who hold a winning 2-0 lead in the series, took the new ball in the third over of the morning and two overs later, Shaun Pollock was dismissed for eight when he edged a ball from Clark to Ponting at second slip.

Prince was the next man out within sight of a fourth test century, when he played a flat-footed drive to a delivery from Lee and was caught by Justin Langer at second slip.

The left-hander had batted for 248 minutes, in which he faced 170 balls and hit 11 fours.

Andre Nel was then dismissed without scoring when he skied an attempted pull shot off Lee to Damien Martyn at mid-off.

However, South Africa were able to pass 300, largely through the efforts of number nine batsman Nicky Boje, who clipped a quickfire 43 off 46 balls.

The innings ended when Boje fended a rising delivery from fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz to Langer in the gully.

Langer returned to open Australia's innings with Matthew Hayden but he did not stay out in the middle very long, after fast bowler Makhaya Ntini hit him on the helmet with the first ball of the innings, forcing the left-hander to retire hurt.

In Ntini's next over, Hayden edged a drive and was well caught by Herschelle Gibbs in the gully for three runs before Martyn and Ponting steadied the innings up to the interval.

Reuters PDS BD1701