28 Dec AUSTRALIA IN CONTROL AFTER RAIN-SHORTENED DAY THREE
MELBOURNE: The Proteas need 371 runs to make Australia bat again in the second Test after experiencing another difficult day at the MCG in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Only 61 overs were possible on day three due to rain, but by that time the tourists had reached the close on 15 for one after the hosts declared their first innings on 575 for eight.
Alex Carey was the key contributor with a maiden career century after recording 111 (149 balls, 13 fours), while there were half-centuries for Travis Head (51 off 55 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) and the injured Cameron Green (51 off 177 balls, 5 fours).
By the time the declaration had arrived, the difference in first innings scores was 386 and the Proteas suffered a big blow in the first of seven overs they faced when captain Dean Elgar feathered down the leg side to counterpart Pat Cummins for nought. It left the South Africans with a big task ahead as they entered the remaining part of the game.
They had started the day promisingly enough – when play began after a slightly delayed start due to rain – as Anrich Nortje (3/92) cleaned up Head and David Warner (200 off 255 balls, 16 fours, 2 sixes) from successive deliveries in the third over of the morning. The latter, in his 100th Test match, had returned to bat after retiring hurt on 200 due to cramp the previous day.
The next over saw Kagiso Rabada (2/144) snare the wicket of Cummins for four as the home side fell to 400 for six. Forty runs later and Lungi Ngidi (1/98) accounted for Nathan Lyon (25) as the end looked in sight.
But Carey and the injured Green, who will not be able to bowl on account of a finger injury, frustrated the visitors by adding 117 for the eighth wicket, before the former departed at the hands of Marco Jansen (1/89).
The declaration followed not long after with the hosts well in control. After Elgar’s early departure, Sarel Erwee (7) and Theunis de Bruyn (6) negotiated the rest of play that was possible with a big job lying ahead for their side on day four.
Proteas Test squad against Australia
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 12 December
Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
17 – 21 December
Australia beat South Africa by six wickets – The Gabba, Brisbane
26 – 30 December
Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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