Tea Australia 383 (Khawaja 145, Smith 59, Handscomb 54, Starc 53, Abbott 3-49, Rabada 3-84) lead South Africa 9 for 259 dec by 124 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Vernon Philander had Usman Khawaja lbw for 145 © Getty Images
A half-century from Mitchell Starc helped Australia extend their lead to 124 on the third day in Adelaide, where they were dismissed for 383. An early tea break was called at the end of Australia’s innings, which finished when Kagiso Rabada had the No.11 Jackson Bird caught at slip for 6. Australia had batted for 19.1 overs on the third day and added 76 for the loss of their last four wickets.
Usman Khawaja added only 7 to his overnight score before he was lbw to Vernon Philander for 145, his 308-ball innings the longest by an Australian opener in a home Test since Justin Langer made a double-century at Adelaide Oval in 2004. But even after Khawaja departed, the Australia tail provided some frustrations for Faf du Plessis and his men.
Starc struck five fours and one six on his way to 53, which was the seventh half-century of his Test career. He eventually prodded a return catch back to Rabada, who finished with 3 for 84. Kyle Abbott did not add to his wicket tally on the third day but finished with the miserly figures of 3 for 49 from 29 overs, including 11 maidens.
The debutant left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi endured a long wait for his maiden Test wicket but finally achieved the feat in his 27th over when he had Nathan Lyon caught top-edging a sweep for 13. Josh Hazlewood finished unbeaten on 11 in the shortened session, with tea brought forward because Australia’s last wicket had fallen within half an hour of the scheduled break.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo