Cricket: Hardy McMillan has rarely had it so good: Taylor inspires Australian fightback

South Africa 361; Australia 112-1

MARK TAYLOR, so often the scourge of English bowlers, was at his adhesive best in Cape Town yesterday as Australia sought to make inroads into a useful South African total in the second Test.

Taylor, who missed Australia's defeat in the first Test because of flu, was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Fanie de Villiers when he had scored 12. In a characteristic gesture of defiance, the vice- captain shrugged off the blow and proceeded to collect five boundaries en route to a half-century which he completed just before the close.

Australia's one setback was the loss of Taylor's opening partner, Michael Slater, who moved with typical zest to 26 before flashing at a ball from de Villiers for Peter Kirsten to scoop up a fine catch in the gully.

It was the elder Kirsten who had borne South Africa's hopes of a substantial total when play resumed, but he had added just eight to his overnight 62 when Warne's third ball of the morning trapped him leg-before.

Having played second fiddle in a sixth-wicket stand of 62, Brian McMillan now took over the reins, adding 75 for the seventh wicket with Dave Richardson before Craig McDermott pinned the wicketkeeper in front of his stumps shortly after tea. Having acquired his third half-century at this level, McMillan went a few overs later for 74, bowled playing back to Warne, who soon had de Villiers taken at slip. Pace wound the innings up, Glenn McGrath having Allan Donald caught behind.

Second day - South Africa won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings

(Overnight: 237 for 5)

P N Kirsten lbw b Warne. . . . . . . . . . . . .70

B McMillan b Warne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

D J Richardson lbw b McDermott. . . . . .34

C J Matthews not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

P S de Villiers c Taylor b Warne. . . . .7

A A Donald c Healy b McGrath. . . . . . . . .7

Extras (lb6 nb7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361

Fall (cont): 6-260 7-335 8-339 9-348.

Bowling: McDermott 27-6-80-2; Hughes 20-1-80-0; McGrath 26.1-4-65-3; S R Waugh 9-3-20-0; Warne 47-18-78-3; M E Waugh 10-3-23-0; Border 6-2-9-0.

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

J Slater c P Kirsten b De Villiers. .26

M A Taylor not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

D C Boon not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Extras (lb1 b1 w1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Total (for 1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Fall: 1-40.

Bowling: Donald 11-3-34-0; De Villiers 11-3-38-1; Matthews 6-1-17-0; McMillan 7-1-18-0; G Kirsten 1-0-3-0.

To bat: M E Waugh, * A R Border, S R Waugh, I A Healy, S K Warne, M G Hughes, C J McDermott, G McGrath.

Umpires: K Liebenberg (SA) and D Shepherd (Eng).