Published: Dec 02, 2012, 10:14 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 02, 2012, 10:14 AM (IST)
Hashim Amla scored his second century in the series to extend South Africa’s lead © Getty Images
Perth: Dec 2, 2012
Hashim Amla started the third day of the third Test against Australia on 99 not out and ended the first session on 149 not out as South Africa took an imposing lead of 382. The Proteas took lunch at 320 for three with Amla and AB de Villiers (18 not out) at the crease.
Amla got his 18th Test century on the third ball of the day as he flicked Mitchell Johnson off his hips for a single to long leg. Amazingly, his 84-ball 100 included just 10 fours.
Meanwhile, the Australians toiled and took the solitary wicket of Jacques Kallis (37) in the morning. The big all-rounder was looking good after struggling with a pulled hamstring throughout the second Test and was 59 runs short of the 13,000 Test runs when he tried to pull Mitchell Starc‘s (two for 103) bouncer. He was to get a healthy top edge that carried to the other Mitchell – Johnson – at fine leg.
The Australians bowled a little better than they did in the final session of day two when Amla and Graeme Smith (84) put up a 178-run stand and scored 268 runs in the session at a rate higher than six runs an over. The hosts got the run rate down to below five per over but that didn’t deny South Africa the chance to take total control of the deciding Test.
Brief Scores: South Africa 225 and 320 for 3 (Hashim Amla 149*, Graeme Smith 84; Mitchell Starc 2 for 103) lead Australia 163 (Matthew Wade 68; Dale Steyn 4 for 40, Robin Peterson 3 for 44, Vernon Philander 2 for 55) by 382 runs
