An emotional Brett Lee claimed a five-wicket haul, including his 200th Test wicket, to steer Australia towards a 102-run first-innings lead over South Africa in the second Test at Kingsmead yesterday.
Lee, who had expressed dismay when Steve Bucknor turned down a number of earlier appeals, shot an extended glare at the Jamaican umpire upon removing Shaun Pollock before tea. And the right-arm paceman shouted into the Durban sky after bowling Mark Boucher to claim his 200th Test scalp, becoming only the 12th Australian bowler to achieve the feat.
But Lee saved his most colourful exchanges for Andre Nel, South Africa's animated paceman. Lee eyeballed Nel upon his arrival at the crease, then mimicked the South African's over-exaggerated follow-through. Shane Warne then joined the fray, and was picked up on the stump microphone using extremely colourful language towards Nel.
Lee rounded out the South African innings by dismissing Nel and Makhaya Ntini to finish with the figures of 5-69 from 19.4 overs. His seventh five-wicket haul - and third this season - helped Australia bowl the South Africans out for 267; a total that was based largely around Jacques Kallis' third Test century against Australia.
Kallis was in masterful touch, looking comfortable against Australia's seamers and spinners alike. His approach on day three was not as frenetic as the previous evening, but was effective nonetheless as he raised his fourth century from his past four appearances in Durban.
The South African vice-captain was the rock of the home side's innings. Lee, meanwhile, did his best to erode their batting line-up.
Stuart Clark, who bowled only two deliveries the previous evening as Australia fought against failing light, made the initial breakthrough, dismissing A.B. de Villiers for 50 in just his second over. The removal of de Villiers, caught by Matthew Hayden in the gully, took Clark's Test tally to 10 wickets from two matches.
Warne then dismissed Ashwell Prince for 33 - the 10th time he has removed the diminutive Proteas batsman in eight Tests. The Australian wrist spinner also claimed the scalp of Jacques Rudolph before tea, looking dangerous as several deliveries turned violently off the wicket.
But until Lee's devastating spell of 4-5 with the second new ball, the Australians hardly felt confident. Kallis, who barely troubled the scorers in Cape Town, raised his 24th Test century by cutting Warne to the cover boundary to continue an innings in which he took advantage of Australia's decision to use their slower bowlers in the failing light of day two.
- ALEX BROWN