South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1: South Africa score 266/8.
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1: South Africa would be disappointed with the way things went for them in the last session. They lost a total of 6 wickets in this third session including the dismissals of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock. Dean Elgar emerged to be the lone warrior for them as he remained unbeaten at 121. South Africa started the innings in a disappointing manner losing Aiden Markram for a duck. Elgar later stitched a good stand with Hashim Amla before Amla got out to Josh Hazlewood for 31. But that came as a blessing in disguise as it AB de Villiers in the middle who took on the Australian bowling attack in an aggressive manner. He scored 64 but got out early after Tea and Australia dominated the play from then on. They picked up wickets in quick succession. Pat Cummins ended his day with figures of 4/64.
South Africa end first day at 266/8. South Africa were restricted to 266/8 on the first day of the third Test match after Dean Elgar went back unbeaten at 121.
WICKET! Another one bites the dust and Keshav Maharaj is gone for 2 and SA are 257/8. Dean Elgar can only look at the wickets falking at the other end. South Africa are struggling now.
WICKET! South Africa continue to lose wickets in the last session. They lose 7 for 254. South Africa are now struggling here in this first innings. They got the start they wanted but the third session has changed the complection of the game.
WICKET! Another one goes down and Quinton de Kock will take the long walk back. Pat Cummins picks his fourth wicket. De Kock tries to pull a short delivery but it kisses the under edge of the bat and the wicket-keeper takes a good catch behind the stumps.
Australia are dominating this last session thoroughly. They have got the fifth wicket and third in this session with AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and now Temba Bavuma back in the hut. De Villiers wicket had certainly opened the gates for Australia to make a comeback and they did it.
A huge wicket for Australia as they get rid off South African skipper Faf du Plessis. The visitors are surely back in the game with that dismissal of du Plessis. Pat Cummins has another one to his name.
WICKET! AB de Villiers hits that one straight to mid off fielder and he has to depart for 64 as South Africa lose third. Pat Cummins get the big wicket of ABD and this breaks the shackles. Australia would look to get back into the game.
South Africa bring up their 200 with Dean Elgar scoring another Test ton. Elgar and de Villiers have really pushed the Australian bowling line up on the backfoot
South Africa end second session at 185/2. AB de Villiers once again showed his class with the bat and he went for the counter attack while on the otehr side Dean Elgar is unbeaten at 91
AB de Villiers on the counter-attack! Back-to-back boundaries for ABD. He is really turning up the ante and taking the attack to Australia.
Dean Elgar takes on Nathan Lyon and smashes him for a maximum. This is fine batting by the southpaw, Lyon flights the delivery, gives it more loop in the air and Elgar is happy to take the challenge.
South African opener Dean Elgar surpasses 3000 Test runs. It has been a sublime innings of 62* by him at Cape Town so far. SA- 126/2 in 40 ovs.
Hashim Amla departs for 31. Australia gets the breakthrough after lunch. Josh Hazelwood pitches it short and Amla goes for the pull and is holed out at fine-leg. SA 92/2
FIFTY! 12th in Test cricket for Dean Elgar. SA- 92/1 in 32 ovs.
Time for Lunch at Cape Town. South Africa are steady with Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar at the crease. Only one wicket fell for the home side. The pitch, which was expected to assist the bowlers has not helped the Australian seamers either. SA- 75/1 in 28 ovs.
50 up for South Africa. Good start for the home side. Amla 29, Elgar 20 are unbeaten at the crease. SA- 52/1 in 21 overs.
South Africa taking it ball by ball and going steady.17 overs gone. Amla moves to 21*, Elgar is on 13.
Time for Drinks! The initial movement on offer has subsided after nearly an hour's play. South Africa are steady with Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla at the crease. SA- 31/1 in 15 ovs.
The first pin falls! Markram pushes at it and ends up nicking it behind, Smith does well to dive to his left and take the catch.
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram open the batting for South Africa and it's Starc and Hazlewood first up for them. A series that has been ugly and featured some top-notch Test cricket at the same time continues.
Morne Morkel is back for Lungi Ngidi, Temba Bavuma replaces Theunis De Bruyn. Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh both are playing for Australia.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel
Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa have won the toss and have elected to bat first against Australia. Skipper Faf du Plessis believes there is a lot more grass on the pitch than in the first two Test and the ball will come on nicely in the first ball. Steve Smith says he would have done the same. Already, SA in advantage.