ADELAIDE. Feb 1: South Africa refused to comment publicly on an umpiring deci sion which mav

have cost them the third cricket Test and the series against Australia here today, reports AFP.

A courageous partnership by veteran Peter Kirsten and injured nightwatchman Fanie de Villiers which' promised tb save the game finally came to nothing as South Africa went down by 1991 runs 73.minutes before the scheduled close.

The fourth wicket pair, who came together'shortly before stumps on the previous day. kept the hungry Australian bowlers at bay for another three hours before the rest of the second innings collapsed dramatically, with seven wickets toppling for 29 runs.

South Africa were all out for 129 after being' set a target of 321.

Kirsten (42) and the injured De Villiers (30). in great pain with a broken right thumb, survived the two-hour opening session and stayed together until the drinks break an hour into the second ses-•slon.

But the pace of Craig McDermott (4-33) and the legspin of Shane Warne (4-31) finally won the day as Australia levelled the series at 1-1, thwarting the visitors hopes of winning a series In this country for the first time.

A crucial turning point on an electrifyingly tense day was the dismissal of key middle-order batsman Jonty Rhodes, fifth man out when adjudged by umpire Terry Prue to have been lbw to off-spinner Tim May

A galaxy of former Australian Test greats among the. media contingent looked aghast when they 'watched television replays suggesting the ball would have missed legstump by a big margin. ’

South African captain Hansie Cronje and team coach Mike Procter, at the postmatch media conference, steadfastly refused to comment on an Issue on which they are known to have strong private views.

Australian captain Allan Border was more forthcoming, expressing general satisfaction with the umpiring of Prue and his on-field partner Darrel Hair.

Umpires are under Incredible scrutiny wtth the television replays, and good and bad decisions are made In every Test." said the veteran of 183 1>sts. more than any player in the history of the game

"I was quite happy with the umpiring this summer given the extreme pressure they are under An umpire in the 1960s (before TV replays) would have had a doddle

"We are all brilliant in hind

sight, but it is tough (for umpires) on a wicket like this where there is low bounce and the ball Is nipping in a bit."

Border said the game had been one of the toughest Tests in which he had played.

"It takes a fair bit of character to come back from one down to draw a series, ' he said.

He admitted that he and his teammates had started to get worried when Kirsten and De Villiers were still together at lunch.

Border forecast that healthy competition would develop between Australia and South Africa. *

lunch time they were sleeping in the dressing rooms." he said.

"But they played tremen dously well and fought it out to the end. I am very proud of them."

"We play a very similar game — it is fairly aggressive and no quarter is given or asked." he said. ,

This series has been great cricket, acceptably hard cricket by both sides. They are very good opposition, a lough side."

He predicted the new series starting between the two countries In South Africa 'early next month would be equally competitive

They will be especially keen In front of their own crowds, but we have all the angles covered ."

Cronje said It was disappointing Ip lose after performing so well over the first half of the day.

"But if someone had told us two months ago that we would draw the series 1 1 we would have been happy he said

Cronje heaped praise on the courage »f De Villiers, who look pain killing tablets to relieve the agony

The pain was so severe that during the lunch break he could not pickup the bat with • his right hand in the dressing room

"He just kepi going and guts it out Cronje said All South Africa should lie ' proud of him "

Procter Bald players were extremely tired after three months on lour

"Some were so weary at lunch time they were sleeping in the dressing rooms." he said.

"But they played tremen dously well and fought it out to the end. I am very proud of them."