Cricket: Kirsten fined again as Australia profit

Australia . . . . . . . . . .469-7 dec and 124-6 dec

South Africa. . . . . . . . .273 and 129

Australia win by 191 runs

PETER KIRSTEN'S temper got the better of him again yesterday. This time, however, his South African colleagues caught the mood, leaving a hole in the dressing-room wall as evidence of their frustration after Australia had squared the three- match Test series in Adelaide.

In harness with the nightwatchman, Fanie de Villiers, Kirsten kept the tourists afloat when, chasing an unlikely 321 in just under four sessions, they began the final day sinking fast on 18 for 3. But when the senior partner was adjudged leg-before to Craig McDermott for 42 there was no mistaking his anger or his reluctance to leave the crease. Another fine for dissent ensued, his second of the match.

Thereafter, McDermott (4 for 33) and the inevitable Shane Warne (4 for 31) served up an unnerving cocktail of pace and guile to wrap up victory with 70 minutes remaining, the leg-spinner exceeding 100 wickets in only his 23rd Test as the last seven wickets slid away for 29 runs.

At 100 for 3 midway through the afternoon, South Africa could still scent the draw that would have sealed the series in their favour. The elder of their two Kirstens had drawn on his vast experience to share a fourth-wicket stand of 82 in 198 minutes with de Villiers, whose resilience was all the more laudable given that he was taking painkillers for a broken right thumb. However, the downfall of the latter, dollying McDermott to mid-off, prompted a headlong decline, preserving the hosts' record of never having lost a home series to their opponents in five meetings since 1910.

Nevertheless, South Africa's captain, Hansie Cronje, refused to be disheartened in advance of the protagonists' impending three-Test encounter in the Republic. 'We went half a day without losing a wicket, but they managed to lift their game just when it mattered.'

(Fifth day: Australia won toss)

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 469 for 7 dec (S R Waugh 164, A R Border 84, M A Taylor 62, M J Slater 53, D C Boon 50).

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings 273 (A C Hudson 90, P N Kirsten 79, S R Waugh 4-26).

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings 124 for 6 dec

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

(Overnight: 18 for 3)

P N Kirsten lbw b McDermott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 P S de Villiers c Reiffel b McDermott. . . . . . . . . . .30 J N Rhodes lbw b May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 D J Cullinan c Healy b McDermott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 B M McMillan lbw b Warne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ] D J Richardson c Taylor b May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 R P Snell c and b Warne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 A A Donald not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Extras (9b 7lb 2w 3nb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129

Fall (cont): 4-100 5-105 6-113 7-116 8-128 9- 128.

Bowling: McDermott 19-8-33-4 (2w 3nb); Reiffel 11-4-15-0; Warne 30.5-15-31-4; May 32- 20-26-2; S R Waugh 6-3-4-0; Border 4-3-1-0; M E Waugh 3-2-3-0.

Umpires: T Prue and D Hair.