Proteas build lead in wake of Bevan master class

The tour match between New South Wales and South Africa appears headed for an exciting finish tomorrow after Michael Bevan and Herschelle Gibbs again laid waste to the bowling for their respective teams on the third day of the contest here in Sydney.

After Bevan (183*) had cut short a magnificent innings of his own to throw the game open, Gibbs dominated the day's closing session to lead the Proteas to a second innings score of 1/112 and an overall advantage of 225.

Bevan had earlier been within 17 runs of scoring his second successive first-class double century on the SCG when he decided to effect a tea time declaration, ending the New South Wales first innings at a healthy 6/385.

Though he was very slow to begin, even to the point that his score did not move for 50 minutes at one point, his innings was an outstanding one. His capacity to transform a vigilant hand into an explosive one upon reaching three figures also appealed.

"I hit them alright and was pretty happy," said Bevan.

Over the last two years, the experienced left hander has enjoyed a love affair with this ground, producing a remarkable average of 125.85 from his last seven matches - and ten innings - here.

His career record at the SCG is also quite remarkable; from 50 matches, he has scored 4850 runs at the mammoth average of 79.50.

"It's where I've played most of my career - at the SCG. You obviously get enough chance to see how it plays.

"Early on I thought they bowled pretty well, pretty tight. And, at the end, we had to score a bit quicker in the hope of setting up a (good finish to the) match," Bevan acknowledged.

"At tea I thought it was the right time [to declare]. It gave us a chance to get a few wickets in that session and gave them a chance to get a few runs so it was more to do with the match situation than anything else."

Young spinner Justin Ontong (0/47) endured especially spectacular punishment, battered for 18 runs in his fifth over before conceding another 17 from his sixth as Bevan initiated an assault that delivered 97 runs from the last 71 balls of his innings.

It was a tough day for all of the tourists' bowlers, though. And the mindset of veteran paceman Allan Donald (0/64) - who bowled excellently at times today - wasn't helped by criticism that had appeared overnight from former rebel wicketkeeper Ray Jennings.

Jennings argued that Donald shouldn't have been included in the tour party in a statement that appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper here in Sydney today.

"Maybe we should ask Ray Jennings if it's alright with him if I play," said Donald after play.

"It's very uncalled for, the comments he made," the quick said.

Donald's teammate, Gibbs (75), soothed the Proteas' concerns as the day closed, with another sparkling innings that laid the platform for another likely declaration at some stage early tomorrow.

Though leg spinner Stuart MacGill (1/27) again found a way to remove Gibbs just as he was close to the height of his powers - receiving an lbw verdict in his favour after two such appeals had been turned down by umpire Bob Parry - the South African openers performed well. Left hander Gary Kirsten (34*) played in sound fashion, and will be back to resume with Jacques Rudolph (2*) in the morning.