As expected, the fans and viewers were left wanting for more as Australia hung on by the scruff of their neck to level the series with a nerve wrecking two wicket victory over the Proteas at the Wanderers. After all the drama in the first Test at Cape Town, there was more in store here at the Bullring as Australia collapsed before Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin rose up to the occasion by putting up an important partnership and Pat Cummins ended his dream debut with the winning runs which saw Australia through.
Australia clinch a thriller to level series
If Cummins was the find of the series for Australia, Vernon Philander was undoubtedly the pick of the series for the hosts. It was Philander who brought South Africa back in the game with the wickets of Clarke and Hussey. Clarke was the first to go and was followed by his former captain Ponting who edged Morkel to a waiting Jacques Rudolph in the slips. A 50 run stand between Hussey and Haddin was broken when Philander trapped Hussey right in front leaving Australia in a precarious position with 95 runs still to get.
But it was the beleaguered players who stood up to be counted as Haddin and Mitchell Johnson put on 72 runs in 81 balls as Australia closed in on leveling the series. But Philander struck once to get his second five wicket haul in as many Tests as Haddin edged one to Boucher. Australia still needed 23 runs to get with all their specialist batsmen gone as the Test headed for a grand stand finish.
Steyn quickly put South Africa in control of the Test as he removed Siddle with 18 runs still to get. But debutant Cummins, who earlier took six wickets, batted grittily as he scored 13 of the remaining runs, including the winning shot as Australia hung on for a two wicket victory thus leaving the series tied at 1-1.
Cummins was adjudged man of the match for his six wicket haul in the second innings while Vernon Philander was adjudged the player of the series for his overall performance.
Tags: Australia, Brad Haddin, Cricket, Mitchell Johnson, South Africa, Test Series, Vernon Philander
