South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3: Steve Smith was undone by Kesahv Maharaj. (Source: AP)
Australia were pushed on the backfoot on the thir day of second Test in Port Elizabeth after they lost five wickets for 180 runs in second innings. South Africa had earlier compiled a total of 382, courtesy an unbeaten ton by AB de Villiers. Later, the Proteas bowling line up went through Australia’s batting order and scalped 5 wickets that included the dimissals of David Warner, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Australia were tottering at 86/4 when Khawaja along with Mitchell Marsh stepped up and provided resistance to take their side’s total to 173/5 before Khawaja departed for 75. He was undon by Rabada who trapped the left-hander in front of the stumps. Australia will now begin day 4 with Tim Paine and Marsh at the crease.
When and where to watch Day 3 of South Africa vs Australia?
South Africa vs Australia will continue to be telecast on TV on Sony Six and Sony Six HD. The first ball from Port Elizabeth will be bowled at 1.30 PM IST. The contest can be followed on SonyLiv app if on the move.
STUMPS! Australia end day's play at 180/5, lead South Africa by 41
WICKET! Kagiso Rabada strikes when it was most needed. He has trapped Usman Khawaja in front of the stumps and the left-hander will take the long walk back to the pavilion. It was length delivery from Rabada that slightly came into the left-hander and hit him on the back pad. Khawaja scored 75 and Australia are 173/5, lead SA by 34
Both Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh have shown patience out there in the middle. They need to stay at the crease till the end of the day's playin Port Elizabeth
Usman Khawaja needs to convert this one into a big score. A century from this situation will surely give him confidence after the kind of form he has had in the series so far.
Australia nulify the deficit the first innings deficit with 6 wickets in hand. Usman Khawaja is unbeaten at 61 while Marsh is on 22
Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh have shown good character in this second innings. The left-right batting combination has been patient in the middle and needs to move further with same plan to get their side back in the hunt
A fifty for Usman Khawaja and the left-hander needs to capitalise on the start he has got. He hasn't been among the runs in this series so far and this is surely a great opprtunity to prove his worth.
SIX! Mitchell Marsh hammers a short delivery from Ngidi over square leg boundary. Marsh read that one early and smashed that away to the boundary. This is going to be a vital stand for Australia in this Test match. Australia are 119/4, trail South Africa by 20
The onus is now on Usman Khawaja to provide the resistance that the visitors require. He has the ability to play long innings. On the other end is Mitchell Marsh who too needs to stay at the crease for as much long as he can to get Australia back in the contest.
Rabada gets anuda! Get's it to bounce on the good length area and the ball swings away from the left hander, Marsh edges it to De Kock
South Africa still have the edge. That wicket of Steve Smith towards the end of that session is one that will help them remain buoyant. Australia have Shaun Marsh, who has answered SOSs before. Alongside him is Usman Khawaja who has thus far remained strong and preserved himself in the face of the new ball. Cameron Bancroft got into the dirt to grind out a 70 ball 24.
Maharaj gets the biggie and the South Africans are off! Maharaj gets it to break away from the left hander and Smith edges it to De Kock. Australia in a sticky spot now.
Smith has gone for a few big shots but looks solid. Him and Khawaja have now put on 13 runs. Maharaj and Ngidi alternating for South Africa
Played on! An ugly end to an impressive innings. This one was full outside off and Bancroft reaches for it, it takes an inside edge before making a terrible mess of the stumps behind him.
Usman Khawaja is on 8 while Bancroft has moved to 15 and survived 54 balls. Australia are weathering the new ball pretty effectively.
Keshav Maharaj has been brought in for Vernon Philander. Philander has been consistent but Kagiso Rabada has been spitting fire so far. Usman Khawaja has replaced Warner in the middle. Meanwhile, these guys are going strong
Moves in and through the gates! That is as good a ball as it gets from Rabada, goes through Warner's defence and crashes on off and middle.
Apart from a misfield in which two players let the ball go to the boundary through their hands and legs respectively, South Africa have kept things tight and not allowed the openers to get too comfortable. At the same time, Warner and Bancroft are braving the tied well. A groundsman has come to the ground to sort out unevenness on the pitch where the bowler's leading leg is landing. Kagiso Rabada has been the danger man so far, bowling like it's his last Test
Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada have started the attack for South Africa while David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have both faced their fair share of quickies. Bancroft has made 2 while Warner is yet to get off the mark
A brilliant direct hit by Steve Smith results in Lungi Ngidi being run out and that brings to an end the South African innings. The Australians gather around AB de Villiers to congratulate him, this has been a real masterclass from one of the all-time greats of the game. Lunch is also called and thus ends a very entertaining first session
And that is the end of the adventure. Hazlewood makes him play three dot balls with the last one not going for four because of good fielding, and then goes right through his gates. He has played a good innings here, although we all would have loved to see him stick around a bit longer
Keshav Maharaj is playing this like a T20I match now. He hits a hat-trick of fours off Mitchell Starc and the partnership between him and De Villiers is now 58 off just 40 balls. South Africa's lead is now 126
It is clear now, they are trying to add as much runs as possible. AB de Villiers went big just a few balls after that and this one cleared the ropes comfortably, he ends up taking 10 runs off Pat Cummins' over. Maharaj then hits another big six in the next and pushes South Africa's lead into the 100s
Keshav Maharaj took a chance and he has come away with it but De Villiers won't be too happy with it. Lyon tosses it up and Maharaj takes the bait, hits it to his on side and Usman Khawaja is underneath it at the ropes. He takes it, throws it up as the movement takes him outside the boundary line and completes the catch once inside. But replays show that he was outside already when he took the catch so it is a six. That will be something that Maharaj will be looking to avoid.
It took him some time but finally, De Villiers arches his back helps a short ball from Cummins over the slips and to the boundary. It is his 22nd Test century, his first in 13 Tests. It has been a scintillating knock so far from the senior pro
Philander caught in his crease by as Cummins gets good bounce and defends in front of his body. Bancroft standing at short leg makes no mistake. Just two balls earlier Philander was dropped at the same position.
South Africa up to 287/7 with lead on to 44. But more importantly, BAND IS HERE! Massive cheer as the camera person catches glimpse of the band arriving at the stadium. Volume keeps going up as they get ready. Comically, camera pans to Dharmasena repeatedly
Underway on Day 3 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia. Proteas lead by 20 runs with 3 wickets in hand. AB de Villiers, Philander resume play. Starc has the ball
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of South Africa vs Australia second Test from Port Elizabeth. Going into an all-important Day 3, the Test is quite evenly poised. South Africa lead by 20 runs with three wickets in hand. Not a massive advantage for the hosts and much of a deficit to counter for the Steve Smith-captained Aussies. South Africa would hope AB can drag this lead to well beyond 100 runs. Let's see how things pan out at St George's Park!