Cricket-Boucher keeps South African hopes alive

JOHANNESBURG, Apr 2: Stuart Clark and Shane Warne shared seven wickets for Australia, but Mark Boucher's defiant half-century kept South Africa's hopes alive in the third and final test today.

South Africa were 250 for eight in their second innings, a lead of 283, when bad light ended play 17 overs early on day three.

Australia were dismissed for 270 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 303.

Fast bowler Clark took four for 64 and leg-spinner Warne picked up three for 83 in the home side's second innings.

Boucher was 55 not out with Andre Nel on 18 in a stand of 56 for the unbroken ninth wicket.

Australia had resumed on 246 for seven, but South Africa wrapped up the innings in the space of 27 deliveries with fast bowler Makhaya Ntini ending on six for 100.

Jeers had echoed around the ground when Brett Lee, on 45, edged a delivery from medium pacer Shaun Pollock, the eighth ball of the day, to first slip.

Boeta Dippenaar dived to take the catch and television replays suggested he took it cleanly.

But Lee stood his ground and after umpires Tony Hill and Steve Bucknor conferred he continued his innings.

In his next over Pollock had a fending Michael Kasprowicz caught by Herschelle Gibbs in the gully for two.

The innings ended five balls later when Lee top-edged a pull off Ntini to Nicky Boje at long-off. CAREER-BEST Lee was roundly booed when he reached his half-century, but his 64 surpassed the 62 he scored against the West Indies in Brisbane in 2000-01 as his career-best score.

AB de Villiers was the first man out in South Africa's second innings for four when he shouldered arms to a delivery from Clark that moved towards the right-hander off the seam.

Clark struck again in the eighth over before lunch when Dippenaar, who scored 20, edged a drive to gully, where Matthew Hayden dived to his left to take a spectacular catch.

Leg-spinner Warne took his first wicket in the ninth over after lunch when Gibbs advanced down the pitch and drove a catch to mid-on. Gibbs hit six fours and a six in his 53.

Ashwell Prince became Warne's second victim nine overs later when he attempted to turn a delivery to the on side and was caught by Andrew Symonds at leg slip for nine.

Clark reduced South Africa to 140 for six by trapping Jacques Kallis in front for 27 and having Jacques Rudolph caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for a duck in consecutive overs.

Pollock was promoted to number six, and he scored 40 off 47 balls before skying a hook off Lee to Gilchrist.

South Africa slumped to 194 for eight when Boje on four pulled a delivery from Warne to square leg where a diving Symonds took the catch.

But Boucher's half-century steadied the South Africans who are seeking consolation after Australia won the first two tests in the series.

Reuters