Duminy inspires battling South Africa
JP Duminy's unbeaten 78 helped South Africa battle back on the third day of the second Test against Australia as the tourists reached 304 for eight at lunch.
Against a home attack minus Brett Lee, who failed to take the field in the opening session at the MCG due to a foot injury, South Africa reduced the first-innings deficit to 90 runs led by the impressive Duminy, who followed an excellent half-century in Perth with another mature contribution.
A day after the Australian tail frustrated the Proteas, the tourists' lower order returned the favour as they eked out what could prove to be a priceless 106 runs in the morning session.
After sharing a 43-run stand late on Saturday with Morne Morkel, Duminy added 67 with Paul Harris and another 53 with Dale Steyn.
With Lee in the dressing room and Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson bowling one over each ahead of the second new ball, Ponting relied on the spin of Nathan Hauritz along with part-timers Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey in the first hour.
Hauritz and Clarke had little impact with the old ball but Hussey enjoyed better fortune, his medium-pacers proving an irresistible temptation for Harris and his brisk 39 ended when he holed out in the deep.
Duminy, with a maiden Test ton in sight, gave a vote of confidence to the tail by choosing not to farm the strike and his belief was rewarded.
Steyn looked uncomfortable against Siddle and the pace bowler struck him with a short ball but he nevertheless made an invaluable, if unconvincing, 25 not out.
