Published: Mar 03, 2014, 09:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 04, 2014, 03:27 PM (IST)
Mar 3, 2014
Australia are 27 for no loss at stumps on Day Three at after some terrific bowling from the frontline pacers reduced South Africa to 287 in the first innings. The visitors have a commanding lead of 234.
After resuming play at 200 for six after tea, South Africa, under the bloody minded grit and determination of Faf du Plessis, with able support from Vernon Philander on the other end continued their batting.
Du Plessis grew into the game and played some fine on-drives to bring up his half-century. The half chances that Australia got were running dry and the bowlers looked frustrated. Michael Clarke handed the ball to Mitchell Johnson to an attacking field and off went the big fish du Plessis. The wicket the visitors desperately needed.
Philander showed promise with the bat with some fine shots and was determined to stay around to avoid the follow-on for the Proteas. But he was soon running out of partners at the other end. Kyle Abbott hung around but his pain-staking stay at the crease was ended by the reverse swing off Shane Watson.
While Philander was not backing off from a fight, Steyn was his chest-thumping self soon after coming on. He played more sensible cricket than any of his top order batsmen and attacked when he got a chance. He didn’t use a runner despite a crocked knee and barely even flinched after being hit by a Johnson beamer, which broke his helmet. Johnson eventually got his number by getting Steyn out.
Morne Morkel was the last to depart with that had the option of taking the follow on. Australia had decided to bat again after taking a massive 207-run lead.
Brief scores:
Australia 494 for 7 decl. (David Warner 135, Michael Clarke 161*, Steven Smith 84; JP Duminy 4 for 73) & 27 for 0 (David Warner 25*) lead South Africa 287 (Alviro Petersen 53, Hashim Amla 38,Vernon Philander 37* ; Mitchell Johnson 4 for 42 Ryan Harris 3 for 63) by 234 runs.
