South African captain Hansie Cronje held his side together with a patient unbeaten 56 as the tourists closed day one of the second test in Australia on 197-5.

Cronje's innings was one of the few things that went right in an amazing day of blunders in Sydney that included South Africa being introduced as the South Australian side.

Play was delayed for half an hour after groundstaff over-watered part of the square.

Then South Africa's national anthem had to be repeated because the singer could not hear his own voice.

Finally a refreshments wagon, used to provide the players with drinks, broke down in the middle of the ground.

Cronje, who won the toss and elected to bat, added 97 for the fourth wicket with Herschelle Gibbs after the tourists had slumped to 70-3.

Herschelle Gibbs salutes the crowd after reaching 50

Gibbs fell to Michael Bevan, recalled for his batting but whose off-breaks proved vital for Australia. Bevan got a wide delivery to turn back and find the inside edge of Gibbs's bat - wicketkeeper Ian Healy holding a difficult catch.

Bevan also claimed Brian McMillan's wicket for six in the final session.

Earlier, South Africa hit trouble when Greg Blewett trapped opener Adam Bacher lbw on the back foot for 39. Then in the same over Jacques Kallis - whose century salvaged a draw for South Africa in the first test - was run out at the bowler's end by Ricky Ponting.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath made the initial breakthrough with the new ball by dismissing Gary Kirsten for 11 when the opener edged a simple catch to Aussie skipper Mark Taylor at first slip.

Scorecard

South Africa first innings:

Extras (nb7 b4 lb2, w1) 14
Total (for five wickets, 97 overs) 197

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-70, 3-70, 4-167, 5-174.

To bat: D Richardson, P Symcox, P Adams, A Donald.

Bowling: G McGrath 14-5-31-1, P Reiffel 16-6-24-0 (nb-3), S Warne 22-5-46-0 (nb-3), M Bevan 20-3-41-2 (nb-1), G Blewett 13-5-30-1, M Waugh 3-1-5-0, S Waugh 8-4-10-0 (w-1), M Elliott 1-0-4-0.

Australia - Mark Taylor (captain), Matthew Elliott, Greg Blewett, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Ian Healy, Paul Reiffel, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath.
 

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