Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

Quinton de Kock’s century and Kyle Abbott’s impressive bowling performance ensured that South Africa continued to have an upper hand at the end of the 3rd day of the ongoing 2nd Test at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart. South Africa was able to post only 326 runs on the scoreboard after resuming to bat 171/5 despite solid knocks from De Kock and Temba Bavuma (74). Australian can thank Josh Hazlewood for his 6 wickets haul which ensured that the Proteas did not build a huge score today. After a debacle in the first innings, Australian started off on a poor note yet again by losing Burns in the second over of the innings. But, Usman Khawaja then steadied the innings for the hosts and ensured the day ended on a satosfying note.

1.De Kock slams ton:

Quinton de Kock was once to the rescue of his team as the left-hander struck a fluent 104 to help South Africa post 326 in the first innings. The wicket keeping batsman walked in a delicate situation when South Africa lost their well-set batsman – Hashim Amla who was helping his team fight back from an early slump which saw them slump to 76/4.

De Kock then combined with Temba Bavuma and forged 144 run stand between them for the 6th wicket and took South Africa to a comfortable position after their initial hiccups. While Bavuma departed for 74, De Kock, who hit twin fifties in the previous match, went on to complete a well-deserved century. De Kock played a similar sort of knock in the first Test as well where he hit 84 in the first innings.

2. Hazlewood polishes off tail to register a six-wicket haul:

Josh Hazlewood has had a very impressive Test so far having taken an overall figure of 6/89 in the first innings. The right arm fast bowler, who was able to take only one wicket (Faf du Plessis) on the opening day, snapped five wickets today to end with a commendable tally.

His first scalp of the day was the highly important wicket of Quinton de Kock which brought an ended to the frustrating 5th wicket stand which had taken away the early advantage his team had initially. Later on, he ensured the tail did not wag much and pocketed the wickets of Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj and Kyle Abbott and restrict the Proteas to just 326 after being 276/4 at one stage.

3. Spectator faces three years ban:

Cricket Australia has slapped a 24-year-old spectator for a racist graffiti directed towards South Africa Hashim Amla. It is reported that the youngster wrote an offensive message on the fence facing the crowd. The shameful incident took place during the third day’s play of the ongoing 2nd Test at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Tasmania.

Police have confirmed that the 24-year old from Longford in Tasmania’s north has been charged on summons. Cricket Australia later stated that it has no tolerance towards anti-social behaviour and the offender will be at the risk getting banned from attending live matches. The Cricket South Africa also thanked the Australian Cricket Board for acting swiftly.

4. Impressive Abbott:

Abbott struck in the second over of the innings with the wicket of Joe Burns. Warner then faced a quite challenging time negotiating the accurate away swingers from the right arm fast bowlers. The overcast conditions played its part but the right hander’s nagging line troubled Warner a lot, not letting the left-hander play his natural game.

In fact, Australia would have lost their second wicket in the last over before tea had Dean Elgar attempted to catch an edge off Warner instead of ducking under it. Warner was on 29 at that time. But, the with the amount of seam movement he was able to generate from the track and the regular scenes of ball missing Warner’s outside edge assured Abbott and the Proteas fan that the left-hander’s wicket was on the way.

In the 23rd over, Warner eventually fell after he played on a shorter delivery onto the stumps. Warner failed to glance a back of the length delivery on the leg side and edged it on the stumps.

5. Khawaja stands strong:

Apart from Warner, Usman Khawaja was the only batsman who was able to negotiate the in-form South African fast bowlers. The left-hander batted throughout the last session and ended unbeaten on 56.

After losing Burns cheaply, Khawaja combined with Warner and took the Australian innings further. Though his stay in the middle wasn’t easy, Khawaja ensured that he saved the wicket and batted well with his senior mate, Warner to put up 79 runs for the second wicket. There are no second guesses about the fact that his contribution will be important for the home side tomorrow in order to narrow the 120 run deficit.