The odds are stacked high against South Africa as their batters face attempting to keep away from turning the second Test against Australia on the Melbourne Cricket Ground into one thing akin to a four-day franchise recreation, ending the third day nonetheless needing 371 runs to keep away from an innings defeat.
The Proteas batted for simply seven overs of their second innings on Wednesday, however in that point they misplaced captain Dean Elgar, caught down the leg-side for a duck. Sarel Erwee (7*) and Theunis de Bruyn (6*) then took them to fifteen/1 when rain stopped play at 4.21pm native time.
Mitchell Starc, bleeding from the finger he dislocated within the area on the primary day, swung the ball prodigiously, nevertheless it was captain Pat Cummins who grabbed the wicket as he bowled three successive maidens.
Toughest check
The bowlers have been by way of one among their hardest checks as Australia piled on 575/8 declared, their greatest whole against South Africa since they smashed 652/7 declared on the Wanderers in 2002. It meant the Proteas conceded a monstrous 386-run first-innings lead.
Anrich Nortje produced an exhilarating double-strike in his second over of the day as he bowled Travis Head for a dashing 51, shaping the ball again into the left-hander. That introduced second-day hero David Warner again to the crease, the left-hander celebrating his 100th Test having retired damage with extreme cramps upon reaching his epic 200*.
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But Nortje, whose super quick bowling the day before today had thrilled the MCG crowd nearly as a lot as Warner’s innings, bowled the veteran opener first ball again with a wonderful yorker.
Cummins survived the hat-trick ball however was then caught behind off Kagiso Rabada for 4. With Cameron Green and Starc each nursing hand accidents, South Africa could have anticipated to wrap the innings up rapidly as Nathan Lyon got here to the crease with Australia on 400/6, main by 211.
But Lyon batted brightly to attain 25 off 17 balls as he and Alex Carey placed on a quickfire 40, and the wicketkeeper/batsman carried on in exhilarating vogue to an thrilling maiden Test century, one which ensured Australia loved an insurmountable lead.
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With Green surprisingly returning to the crease with a fractured finger and defending stoutly, Carey feasted on the drained bowling on a flat pitch, scoring an excellent 111 off 149 balls earlier than providing a return catch to Marco Jansen as he tried to withdraw his bat from a steepling, tennis-ball bounce lifter from the left-arm fast.
Green turned extra fluent the longer he was on the crease, however his 51 not out was nonetheless a grind, albeit a courageous one, coming off 177 deliveries in 224 minutes.
Having bowled themselves into the bottom, South Africa’s bowlers finally acquired some respite when Australia declared shortly earlier than tea, having batted for 145 overs. Nortje earned immense respect for his effort as he completed with 3/92 in 25 overs.
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