Cricket: Kirsten assumes command

Gary Kirsten struck a stylish century to guide South Africa into a match-winning position on the fourth day of the third Test against Australia in Adelaide. He followed up his first innings 77 with an unbeaten 108 as South Africa, 1-0 down in the series, declared on 193 for 6, setting Australia an unlikely target of 361 to win. By the close they had slumped to 32 for 2.

Earlier, Australia's captain Mark Taylor had become only the ninth Australian in history to carry his bat through a Test innings, finishing on 169 not out after more than eight-and-a-half hours at the crease.

Fourth day; South Africa won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings 517 (B M McMillan 87no, G Kirsten 77, W J Cronje 73, P L Symcox 54).

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

(Overnight: 327 for 9)

*M A Taylor not out 169

S C G MacGill b Symcox 10

Extras (lb12, nb5, b2) 19

Total (122.5 overs) 350

Bowling: Pollock 41-11-87-7 (nb2); McMillan 23-5-60-0 (nb1); Kallis 18- 5-45-1; Klusener 27-65-104-1 (nb2); Symcox 13.5-3-40-1.

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

G Kirsten not out 108

A M Bacher c MacGill b Warne 41

J H Kallis b Kasprowicz 15

*W J Cronje c Warne b Kasprowicz 5

L Klusener b MacGill 0

P L Symcox C Healy b MacGill 2

H H Gibbs st Healy b MacGill 2

J N Rhodes not out 19

Extras (nb1) 1

Total (for 6 dec, 58 overs) 193

Fall: 1-80, 2-133, 3-155, 4-155, 5-157, 6-165.

Did not bat: B M McMillan, S M Pollock, D J Richardson.

Bowling: Kasprowicz 18-5-55-2; Bichel 14-2-51-0 (nb1); S R Waugh 4-1- 13-0; Warne 15-2-52-1; MacGill 7-1-22-3.

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings

M E Elliott c Richardson b Pollock 4

*M A Taylor b Klusener 6

G S Blewett not out 9

M E Waugh not out 11

Extras (nb2) 2

Total (for 2) 32

Fall: 1-6; 2-17.

Bowling: Pollock 6-2-11-1 (nb1); Klusener 5-2-12-1 (nb1); Kallis 4-3- 1-0; Symcox 2-0-8-0.

Umpires: D B Cowie (NZ) and S G Randell (Aus).