SA vs AUS, 2nd Test, Day 3, Review: AB de Villiers and Rabada put South Africa on top

Port Elizabeth witnessed yet another fascinating day of Test cricket which was dominated by South Africa for most parts only for the visitors to come back in the end. It was all about AB de Villiers in the first session whose heroics helped the hosts bag a significant lead of 139 runs n the first innings. Aussies then stuttered in the second innings but it was the partnership between Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh to keep them in the game. However, the hosts finished the day on top as they managed to scalp the former in the dying stages.

Earlier in the morning, the unbeaten overnight duo of Vernon Philander and De Villiers came out with the game right in the balance. Both started cautiously and defied the wicket to the probing Aussie bowlers in the first hour. Then the accumulation of runs started in a confident manner with Philander playing his shots. They added 84 runs for the eighth wicket and took the lead past 50.

De Villiers heroics

Just when everyone thought that the duo would take the game away from Australia, Pat Cummins snaffled Philander on 36 to break the frustrating stand. Keshav Maharaj joined De Villiers then as the latter took charge of the game completely. First, he brought up his sensational 22nd Test ton with an upper cut off Cummins and soaked in the applause from the crowd. It was an indeed a special knock with everyone else struggling to make a mark. Maharaj, however, suddenly started playing shots off Mitchell Starc which was an absolutely an entertaining phase.

They stretched the lead past 100 and also stitched a partnership of 58 runs for the ninth wicket. Though he was scalped by Josh Hazlewood amidst the brilliance of Mr 360 who picked runs cleverly. In the end, South Africa posted 382 runs as Lungi Ngidi was run out and had a lead of 139 runs with them. AB de Villiers remained unbeaten yet again in the first innings on 126 off just 146 deliveries with 20 fours and a solitary maximum which was the highlight of his knock.

Aussies stutter

Australia began their second innings with a huge deficit as David Warner was castled by Kagiso Rabada on 13 which followed a patient 35-run stand between Cameron Bancroft and Khawaja. But Bancroft failed to take his knock beyond 24 as he played on off Ngidi which triggered a mini-collapse on either side of the tea break. Steve Smith has curiously looked out of touch in this series so far as Keshav Maharaj once again had his number on 11. Shaun Marsh soon followed who threw his wicket away to leave his team reeling at 86/4.

Though his brother Mitchell and Khawaja fought gamely throughout the third session and added 87 runs for the fifth wicket and also helped Australia erase the deficit. Just when they were enterprising thoughts of ending the day unfazed, Rabada came back to pin Khawaja in front who had played beautifully until then for his 75. Australia eventually finished the day on 180/5 with Mitchell Marsh unbeaten on 39 and Paine staying with him in the middle.

Needless to say that the first session on the fourth day would be crucial from Australia’s perspective. They will need a lead of around 200 to unsettle the nerves in the hosts’ camp. South Africa, on the other hand, will be keen on skittling Australia as soon as possible and gun down the runs to level the series.

Brief Scores

Australia 243 after 71.3 overs (D Warner 63; K Rabada 5/96, L Ngidi 3/51) & 180/5 after 63 overs (U Khawaja 75, M Marsh 39*; K Rabada 3/38)

South Africa 382 after 118.4 overs (De Villiers 126*, D Elgar 57, H Amla 56; M Marsh 2/26, P Cummins 3/79)

State of the match: Australia lead by 41 runs in the second innings