Published: Nov 25, 2016, 05:01 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 25, 2016, 05:01 PM (IST)
Australia dominated over South Africa on Day Two building a lead of 48 runs. Usman Khawaja batted throughout the day and ended with an unbeaten 138 and along with him is Mitchell Starc at the crease on 16. Australia are a side that won the first-ever day-night Test that was played last year and now are comfortably placed at Adelaide Oval. South Africa after trying many bowlers, found their way in the final session with consecutive wickets in form of Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade. Kyle Abbott ended with figures of 3 for 38 with Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander grabbing one wicket apiece. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs South Africa, third Test, Day One at Adelaide
Spinners Tabraiz Shamsi, Dean Elgar and seamer Temba Bavuma were punished as the flow of boundaries were too frequent from the Australian batsmen. Starc stabilised the final few minutes of the last session after adding a steady 24 with Khawaja.
After all the hullabaloo surrounding Khawaja and his century until dinner break, the spotlight fell on the new entrant Handscomb. He went for back-to-back boundaries and did not allow the spinners to settle in the final session. South Africa introduced new spinner Dean Elgar, who holds the best figures of 4 for 22 against India that he secured against India in Mohali in 2015. However, even this plan from South Africa was thwarted courtesy Handscomb’s blade.
The surprising bit was yet to come. Captain Faf du Plessis even employed Temba Bavuma’s medium pacers but even that did not work. Shamsi tried his luck with the DRS when Handscomb tried to cut a delivery that was passing over the stumps. The ball hit the pad and took an inside edge to Hashim Amla at the slip. Du Plessis, who went for referral, found it reversing back. Handscomb, meanwhile, was looking to grab a single. Rushing back in panic, Handscomb dropped his bat and planted his hand inside the crease which was in air. Had Amla hit the stumps then, a clear chance of run-out was on cards. Handscomb was caught in a fix once again as this time another run-out by Bavuma saw celebrations at the visitors’ camp. However, the number of replays confirmed Handscomb was safe.
With Handscomb receiving life twice, he smashed 4 fours off Philander surging to his maiden Test fifty and also provided lead to Australia by 7 runs then. By drinks Australia saw another building partnership between Handscomb and Khawaja for the fourth wicket. After all the permutations and combinations, South Africa found solace in Abbott and provided yet another breakthrough with his third wicket. Handscomb was cleaned up by Abbott, rattling the stumps. With that, Khawaja and Handscomb’s 99-run stand came to an end. ALSO READ: Usman Khawaja’s century thwart Proteas
Maddinson was the No. 6 batsman to join the lone man Khawaja. After all the attempts, Rabada’s hunt came to an end picking the new man Maddinson for a duck. Khawaja was once again left alone and with Matthew Wade on crease, Australia were back to fresh beginnings. With 12 overs in hand, Australia needed to build decent lead while South Africa eyed 5 wickets to end the Australian innings. In no time, South Africa opened their account and the flow of wickets began. This time Philander also bagged a wicket, with Wade comfortably caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
New batsman Mitchell Starc also became victim to the series of referrals taken on Day Two. Starc was given out by umpire Llong, however, since it pitched outside leg, Starc was safe and sound. Khawaja, at the non-strikers end, witnessed consecutive fall of wickets in the final session.
In the second session, Khawaja got his fifth Test century putting Australia on the driver’s seat. However, a dreadful mix-up led to Steven Smith finding his way back for 59. The partnership of 137 runs came to an end. Australia headed for dinner break at 209 for 3 with Khawaja and Handscomb beginning their innings at 108 and 14 respectively. Khawaja has scored 276 runs so far in this series until dinner break.
South Africa witnessed sloppy fielding as Amla dropped Smith on 46, who eventually completing his fifty. Proteas struck twice in the afternoon with Abbott bagging two wickets of Matt Renshaw and David Warner, caught by Elgar at third slip. Australia, who are on the brink of sixth consecutive defeat in Tests, will be hopeful to build decent lead against South Africa on Day Three.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 259 for 9 (Stephen Cook 40, Faf du Plessis 118*, Quinton de Kock 24, Tabraiz Shamsi 18*; Mitchell Starc 2 for 50, Josh Hazlewood 4 for 36, Jackson Bird 2 for 57) trail Australia 307 for 6 (Usman Khawaja 138*, Steven Smith 59, Peter Handscomb 54; Kyle Abbott 3 for 38) by 50 runs.
FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs South Africa, third Test, Day One at Adelaide
