BEVAN DOMINATES, THEN DECLARES

This at the end of an afternoon session that belonged almost exclusively to New South Wales batsman Michael Bevan (183*) as he continued a golden run at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Over the last two years, the experienced left hander has enjoyed a love affair with this ground, producing a remarkable average of 125.85 from his last seven matches - and ten innings - here.

His career record at the SCG is also quite remarkable; from 50 matches, he has scored 4850 runs at the mammoth average of 79.50.

Today the left hander produced an incredible blend of batting, initially patient and watchful in a slow lead-up to the attainment of his century in the post-lunch session before exploding into attacking life with an amazing assault on the tourists' bowlers.

Complementing his magnificent unbeaten 203 last week against Western Australia, Bevan moved serenely to his unconquered 183 today - even racing from 100 to 150 in the space of 44 minutes and from just 37 deliveries.

Young spinner Justin Ontong (0/47) endured especially spectacular punishment, battered for 18 runs in his fifth over before conceding another 17 from his sixth. Bevan had survived a missed stumping at 0 yesterday, and Ontong grassed a difficult chance running in from deep square leg just after the New South Wales captain had reached his hundred. The Proteas were left to rue both slices of misfortune.

Michael Clarke (37) and Mark Higgs (23) each wasted fine starts, though not before they had each enjoyed productive partnerships with their skipper. The partnership between Bevan and Higgs was positively explosive, in fact, with 107 runs added in just 16 overs.

To add to the enormity of Bevan's performance, he moved past the 15,000 first class run mark during the course of his innings. After it, the tally rested at an impressive 15,150 overall.

South Africa's batsmen are likely to continue to honour the positive approach that has now been injected into the game as they attempt to build swiftly on a 113-run first innings lead.

BEVAN NEARS CENTURY AS SLOW FIRST SESSION ENDS

South Africa's bowlers have been operating on a good line and length for the most part this morning - though their economy has also been assisted by the largely defensive intentions of both Michael Bevan (86*) and Michael Clarke (28*).

Each has been perfectly content to play the game at his own pace.

Bevan was particularly watchful and, at one point, did not move from a score of 64 for a total of 43 deliveries. It was a period which spanned 50 minutes and which featured reserved strokeplay, and great care in his treatment of good and even bad balls.

The only runs that came during this phase were raised by nightwatchman Shawn Bradstreet (15).

But, with Lance Klusener and Steve Elworthy bowling with control from the Paddington and Randwick Ends respectively, even Bradstreet was finding runs precious commodities to come by.

Ironically, he was actually dismissed as he attempted to let a ball from left arm spinner Claude Henderson pass.

The ball bobbled up after it hit his left pad and deflected back onto his wicket, dislodging the bails in front of jubilant wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher.

But it proved to be the only joy for the South Africans - and many of the spectators too - in an opening session in which the number of dot balls grossly outweighed the number of runs added to the scoreboard.

When he did attack, Clarke played beautifully nonetheless, employing near-perfect shot selection and a rich sense of timing to collect his runs.

Pacemen Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock took the second new ball for the South Africans, meanwhile, and each bowled well. Donald once again did most of his bowling into the wind, conceding 21 runs in the course of five overs during which he rarely attained any luck.

As well as bowling manfully, the South Africans have also been sharp in the field as they continue to defend their own first innings total of 498.

© CricInfo

Date-stamped : 23 Dec2001 - 07:11