Published: Nov 05, 2016, 10:05 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 05, 2016, 10:19 AM (IST)
South Africa go to lunch on Day Three of the first Test with a commanding lead of 181, with eight wickets in hand. Dean Elgar and JP Duminy brought up their fifties in the first session and look set to get a big score on the board. They have ended the session at 183 for 2, having begun the day at 104 for 2, 102 runs ahead. Australian bowlers have toiled hard throughout the session, but have not gotten the desired result they would have hoped for. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazleowwd began proceedings today. The batsmen were especially severe on Starc, who went for a few boundaries in his spell. Duniny and Elgar played beautifully to bring up their eighth and fourth Test fifty respectively. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs South Africa, 1st Test at WACA, Perth
Elgar and Duminy have also put on over 100 for the third wicket. This has been a crucial partnership, having lost Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla on Day Two, with just 45 runs on the board. Had Australia made further inroads, they would have had the match under control by now. With the likes of Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock to follow, South Africa look to set Australia a daunting target. Australia will look to strike early in the second session and get back into this game, which seems to be slipping away from them at the moment.
Earlier on Day Two, Australia were bowled out for 244 and managed to take a lead of just two runs. They were 150 for no loss at one stage, with David Warner and Shaun Marsh going strong. But Warner’s wicket triggered a collapse and Australia were bowled out for just 244, going past South Africa’s first innings total of 242. Vernon Philander was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets. Debutant Keshav Maharaj chipped in with three wickets as well. But South Africa suffered a big blow after Dale Steyn walked off the field on Day Two, holding his shoulder. It was later confirmed that he had a stress fracture and could be put of action for as many as six months. South Africa effectively have just three bowlers in this match, in Steyn’s absence. LIVE Cricket Updates, Australia vs South Africa, 1st Test, Day 3 at Perth
However, it was South Africa, who batted first and got 242 on the board. None barring de Kock and Bavuma made useful contributions. De Kock scored a brisk 84, while Bavuma was more circumspect with his 51. South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but ensured that they did not get bowled out to a low score. Starc was once again the pick of the bowlers for Australia, finishing the girst innings with figures of 4 for 71. His partner Hazlewood, chipped in with three wickets. South Africa’s tail did chip in and their total almost reached the 250-run mark.
It was South Africa, who had won the toss on Day One and elected to bat first. their regular skipper AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the tour and as a result, it will be du Plessis leading them here, just like he did in the One-Day Internationals (ODI) series against Australia. South Africa decided to hand out a Test debut to all-rounder Maharaj in this match.
Brief scores:
South Africa 242 Temba Bavuma 51, Quinton de Kock 84; Mitchell Starc 4 for 71, Josh Hazlewood 3 for 70) & 183 for 2 (Dean Elgar 46*, JP Duminy 34*; Josh Hazlewood 1 for 34, Peter Siddle 1 for 12) lead Australia 244 (David Warner 97, Shaun Marsh 63, Adam Voges 27, Vernon Philander 4 for 56, Keshav Maharaj 3 for 56) by 181 runs
