Michael Clarke joined Hussey and both looked in control until Clarke tried to take a second run calling to Hussey “Two, he is slow” and ended up run out for 19 and Australia 124/5.

Hussey followed soon afterwards inside edging off Peterson for 38 and suddenly Australia in a bit of trouble at 130/6.

George Hogg (12) fell on 141 when going back and almost leaving a sharp turner from Peterson, was adjudged caught at the wicket after a good juggling act from Stewart. Ian Harvey on five and Damian Wright on two were at the wicket at the end of 35 overs and the Australians (147/7) still 43 runs adrift.

The short delay saw Duckworth/Lewis take off an additional over setting the target at 190 off 47 overs.

Katich not afraid to take any of the bowlers on, smashed Kemp repeatedly to the cover fence. Kemp not bowling with the same pace and aggression that he did two seasons ago went for 30 in his first four overs, to go with his 49 off 8 overs in the first match.

The partnership between Katich and Hussy was taking shape and had grown to 56 off 63 balls at the completion of 20 overs. Katich the aggressive one on 46 (36) and Hussy on 12 had pushed the Australians score to 77 for three.

Langer faced the first over from Elworthy taking three runs from it and then one run from Terbrugge giving the strike to Ryan Campbell. Campbell on the back foot, forcing the first ball of his innings, got an inside edge that sent his off stump flying and Australia were 4/1.

A second power failure had the players off the field for a further 15 minutes, reducing the target to 191 off 48 overs.

On the resumption Blewett sparred at Elworthy to be caught by Kirsten at gully for one. Langer followed after being bowled by one coming back from Terbrugge for 14. Australia’s turn to feel the pressure at 21 for three after 10 overs

South Africa had moved to 139/6 with Van Jaarsveld going to 51 and Stewart 44 when the interruption came.

After the restart both batsmen upped the run rate and it was not till the 43rd over when Stewart went down the pitch to Blewett, got under it, and hoisted a catch that Langer accepted with open arms. A brilliant patient partnership of 125 had come to an end with Stewart scoring 60 of them. South Africa ‘A’ had recovered from 38/6 to 163/7.

It was now left to Steve Elworthy to see Van Jaarsveld through the innings.

With Harvey bowling well at the death of the innings, mixing up his pace and keeping it full, Elworthy did not last long adjudged lbw for two and South Africa 167/8.

With Van Jaarsveld running out of partners, he pushed along to 82 when he swung at a high full toss that hit high on the bat and looped to mid off to be caught off the bowling of Nathan Bracken. He had helped South Africa to 187/9.

David Terbrugge and Mornantau Hayward stayed together till the last over when Terbrugge lofting Harvey to deep mid-wicket ending one meter short of taking the score to 200.

South Africa, thanks to Van Jaarsveld and Stewart, had reached a defendable total of 194 in 49.3 overs.

Maintaining a run rate of just above three runs to the over they were both content on rotating the strike and keeping their wickets intact. Not prepared to take any chances they set their minds at building towards a total of somewhere in the region of 200.

During this period there was a power failure at the ground rendering the floodlights useless. Unless something is done soon the players will have to come off for what at the moment is not good light.

After 35 overs South Africa had moved to 127/6 with Van Jaarsveld on 49 and Stewart on 41 and the partnership 89.

Prince, on 14 and South Africa 38/4, decided to take George Hogg on at cover point for a silly quick run. As quick as he is Prince ended up about 4 meters short. Why anyone would want to take a quick run when your team is in dire trouble and you are only in the 11th over, only he will know.

Justin Kemp came and went sparring at one outside off and giving Williams his fourth wicket, edging to Hussey at 2nd slip. South Africa all but sunk at 38/6.

With the weather closing in and getting colder, maybe coming from the temperature in the South African dressing room, Van Jaarsveld and Errol Stewart set about restoring some sanity to the innings.

Stewart in particular batting with the utmost determination and supported by Van Jaarsveld who was extra watchful. A lesson that hopefully the other players have a learnt from.

Together the two saw out the first 20 overs with Van Jaarsveld on 23 and Stewart on 19 with South Africa still floating on 72/6.

Brad Williams got Kirsten playing at the first ball of the innings and saw the outside edge put down by Greg Blewett at first slip. Two balls later he got one to lift into the shoulder of Kirsten’s bat for the left hander to be caught at backward point for one and South Africa 4/1 in the first over.

Things got worse in the second over when Bosman dabbed forward and was called by Robin Peterson for a quick run. A direct hit from Katich had Bosman short of his ground at the bowlers end and out for one.

In the third over, 6/2 became 9/3, when Robin Peterson on four was adjudged to have got an inside edge to a ball going across him from Williams.

Neil McKenzie added to the woes of the South Africans. In the fifth over he tried to run a ball from Williams down to third man. The ball took the outside half of the bat and was caught at second slip by Michael Hussey. Once again McKenzie was out without scoring and South Africa now 14/1.

Martin van Jaarsveld (11), who was lucky to be dropped by Blewett at first slip off Williams, and Ashwell Prince (14) were still together at the end of the 10th over with South Africa 38/4.

South Africa ‘A’, winning the toss and electing to bat, has made one change bringing in Mornantau Hayward for Andre Nel. Australia has brought in Damian Wright and Simon Katich for Mark Higgs and Stuart Clark.

The pitch looks hard with a thin covering of grass so should have a bit in it for both the batsmen and bowlers.

A stiff breeze and a rain forecast could have an influence on this match.