PROTEAS PILE ON THE PRESSURE

AB DE VILLIERS spearheaded a magnificent Proteas' batting display on the third day of the third Castle Test against Australia at Sahara Park Newlands on Saturday as the home side piled up a further 250 runs in less than two sessions.

De Villiers went to his third century this summer against Australia and to a career-best 163 against these particular opponents (196 balls, 7 sixes and 12 fours) to help the Proteas to their highest ever team total against Australia of 651 - the previous best was the 622/9 dec  at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in 1970 - and also their highest ever at Sahara Park Newlands, beating the 620 against Pakistan in 2003.

De Villiers' performance in scoring three centuries in six Tests against the world leaders is a feat in its own right. The only comparative figure by a South African not surprisingly belongs to Graeme Pollock who scored three centuries in five successive Tests against Australia although there were home and away series against England sandwiched between the two Australian series.

De Villiers' overnight partner, Jacques Kallis, who failed to add to the 102 he scored on Friday, has now scored four centuries against Australia on a list that is topped by Pollock and Eddie Barlow with five centuries each.

The most impressive feature of the Proteas' display was that they put their total on the board in little more than 150 overs at a rate of more than four to the over.

Although De Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Kallis put the big runs on the board, there was also a notable contribution from Albie Morkel who made a quick-fire 58 (71 balls, 10 fours and a six) in his debut innings at this level under conditions that were tailor made for his aggressive approach.

Morkel and De Villiers added 124 for the seventh wicket in only 20 overs with De Villiers hitting the first four balls of one over from Andrew McDonald for sixes. The fifth ball went for a single before McDonald bowled Morkel to complete an eventful over.

With a lead of 442 the Proteas were able to put tremendous scoreboard pressure on the Australians and Paul Harris and Dale Steyn captured key wickets in Phillip Hughes and Ricky Ponting by the time 21 overs had been bowled.

Simon Katich and Michael Hussey survived tremendous pressure from Harris until the close, bringing up the 100 in the process but the Australians still finished the day 340 runs in arrears.

Michael Owen-Smith

Media Officer, Cricket South Africa