Australia vs South Africa Third Test: live cricket scores, updates (Day 3 – Perth)
Roar Guru By Suneer Chowdhary, 2 Dec 2012 Suneer Chowdhary is a Roar Guru
153 Have your say
6,920 readsLive Scores
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
|
Australia v South Africa WACA GROUND, NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 4, 2012 3rd Test - AUS v SAF |
|---|
| South Africa 1st Inn | 225 All Out |
| Australia 1st Inn | 163 All Out |
| South Africa 2nd Inn | 569 All Out |
| Australia 2nd Inn | 322 All Out |
| South Africa won the toss and elected to bat | |
| South Africa won by 309 runs | |
| Australia | Over:82.5 RR:3.89 | ||||
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NM Lyon* | 31 | 43 | 6 | 0 | 72.09 |
| MA Starc | 68 | 43 | 9 | 2 | 158.14 |
| South Africa | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| DW Steyn* | 22.5 | 6 | 72 | 3 | 3.15 |
| VD Philander | 21.0 | 8 | 41 | 2 | 1.95 |
| Recent Overs: | ||
| 1 . . . 4 . | | 4 . 1 . 1 4 | | 4 . . . 4 . | |
| Last Wicket: | Lyon, 31 (c:Smith b:Steyn) |
| Current Partnership: | 87 runs, 75 balls, RR:116.00 |
South Africa took command of the third and final Test at Perth against Australia as their lead swelled to 292 by close on the second day.
We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action throughout the third Test match, with the day starting at 1:30 pm AEDT (10:30am local) on December 2.
With eight wickets still standing for South Africa, it looks like they could push their lead to over 400 if they bat out the first one hour or so.
Hashim Amla ended the day unbeaten on 99 from only 84 balls. His partnership with his captain Graeme Smith yielded 178 runs for the second wicket, punishing their hosts further after their first innings lead.
Smith was out to a fine catch, but Jacques Kallis was missed early and went on to finish the day 17 not-out.
The track showed no signs of treacherousness that had seen South Africa get bowled out for 225 on the first day before dismissing Australia for 163.
Dale Steyn was the obvious star of the bowling show, roaring back into form with a four-wicket haul after having little joy in this series earlier.
The Australian top-order fell away quickly raising comparisons with their performance at Cape Town last year but Matthew Wade’s timely half-century saved them the blushes.
Later, Robin Peterson ran through the lower-order to pick up three wickets and help South Africa achieve a lead of 62 runs.
A lot was expected out of the Australian new ball bowlers given how the batsmen have struggled when the ball has had a pronounced seam.
That they got only one wicket, of Petersen, by the time the shine had gone, was as much a testimony to how well the South Africans batted as it was to the pedestrian nature of the Australian bowling.
Michael Clarke seemingly missed Peter Siddle and co. in the third session on Saturday and will need Starc, Johnson and Hastings to deliver some early blows on the third day to redeem something from what seems to be a hopeless situation.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game from the WACA in Perth and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Keep updated by reviewing the comments below.
The Ashes journey begins
The Australian cricket team have left Australia to begin their tour of England, with a mission to reclaim the Ashes.
Australian captain Michael Clarke and his teammates were optimistic about their chances before jetting off.
Click here to hear the thoughts of our Australian cricket team as they left for England.
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
The Crowd Says (153) | Page 1 of Comments
The Roar Live Blog: Latest comments displayed at the top of the page | Click here to jump to leave a comment
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Australia v South Africa, Cricket, dale steyn, Hashim Amla, live blog, Michael Clarke
4:57am
mathushan said | 4:57am | Report comment
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sri-Lanka-Cricket-FansCom/144648515632964?ref=hl plz like
4:08am
Neuen said | 4:08am | Report comment
632 for victory. Track might be flat but its going to break up and Steyn is getting swing. If he gets the reverse going like in India it could spell big trouble.
9:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:05pm | Report comment
Right then, Australia have passed the first hurdle, survived the small session without the loss of any wickets. Chasing 632 for a win, they have gathered 40 runs in the 13 overs with Warner being the obvious aggressor. Cowan, who had a duck in the first innings, gets to nine from 46 balls.
As shown in the South African innings, it is still a flat track and the bowlers’ only hope for now is for the track to deteriorate a little and get a little up and down. That, and obviously the fact that the Aussies will need long powers of concentration to come out of this one unscathed.
Suneer Chowdhary here, signing off and will be back tomorrow with the fourth day’s play!
9:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:00pm | Report comment
The field has now come up – three slips, gully, short cover, leg gully for Cowan. Why wouldn’t you have such and more attacking fields with 600 runs to play with is beyond me.
8:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:58pm | Report comment
Nearing the end of the day’s play now, with Australia having gotten themselves to 0/38.
8:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:54pm | Report comment
Short of length and Warner whips it across his hips for a four!
It was more of a short-arm jab and Warner gets it to in front of the deep square-leg fielder for a boundary.
8:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:53pm | Report comment
Dale Steyn is back on to replace Vernon Philander. Australia smoothly moved on to 0/34 in 11 overs.
About eight more minutes of play remaining here.
8:46pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:46pm | Report comment
Ed Cowan’s pulled away with the bowler just about to release the ball, for the second time this innings…much to the chagrin of the Saffers fielders. They let him know what they feel of this and an exasperated Cowan calls for a fly spray.
0/28 in 10.
8:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:39pm | Report comment
Ouch, Morkel takes a tumble in his follow-through
And unlike the other times when Morkel just tumbles on his follow-through, this is more serious than the others – he twisted his ankle after landing on the front crease and went down. It looked awfully painful but he is on his feet now.
8:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:37pm | Report comment
Morne Morkel has come on to replace Steyn.
8:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:35pm | Report comment
Philander wasn’t happy with the ball and was showing it to the umpire but was told to continue.
Only recently, in the second Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, they had to change the ball almost every five overs because it kept going out of shape. At one stage, there was a danger that they might run out of balls! They use the Kookaburra balls there.
8:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:33pm | Report comment
Things happening in a bit of a slow motion here; not too much swing and the batsmen have generally looked comfortable.
1/21 in the eighth
8:27pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:27pm | Report comment
Plays and misses galore that over from Vernon, the sixth in the innings. Any of them could have taken the outside edge through to the keeper, but Cowan survives and gets a single off the last ball.
0/20 in six. Cowan’s got himself four singles in this innings so far and is battling to survive here.
8:22pm
Johnno said | 8:22pm | Report comment
Phillander deserves a wicket wow is that good bowling.
8:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:18pm | Report comment
After a decent over from Philander, Steyn now gets a chance against Cowan.
8:13pm
Hop Harrigan said | 8:13pm | Report comment
Channel 9 just had the hide to show (at about 5:25 pm 2nd of December WA time) doctored footage (and commentary) of Merv Hughes’s 1988 WACA hat trick. When he took the third wicket I said to my wife “Merv just took a hat trick and the dickhead commentators don’t even know” (or words to that effect). The doctored footage has graphics across the bottom saying “Hughes on hat trick” or similar and the commentator in the background says “here comes the hat trick ball” (or similar). Fair dinkum these people are beyond belief, they just keep rewriting history and cover up their shortcomings. They did the same thing with the Border/Thomson partnership. Just recently they were raving on about it and showed Jeff Thomson being caught behind; pity we didn’t see it live because the bastards went to a commercial one ball too soon. A pox on Channel 9.
2:21am
Lolly said | 2:21am | Report comment
I remember that! I was charging around the loungeroom in best angry teenager mode when they got back to the match and found that the game was over!
8:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:13pm | Report comment
Wafts at it but misses the outside edge, does Warner!
Steyn bowls it outside the off and Warner went for it, like he had earlier, but misses it!
Follows it up with a drive through covers for his third four, before nicking it through the third slip region for another boundary. Already showing aggression here Warner and the question is whether it can continue without too much loss.
0/17 in 3.
8:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:07pm | Report comment
Four more for Warner here!
Swing back into the batsman and Warner tucks it away to mid-wicket for another four. Two in the over already!
8:07pm
rudy said | 8:07pm | Report comment
If Australia get a good start and play positively and well, they can win. They must play to win from the start.
8:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:06pm | Report comment
First ball and cut over the slips for Warner!
Outside the off stump and bit short in length and Warner cuts it away to the third-man region for a four. Whoa, risky shot to play after having got out to one last innings.
8:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:03pm | Report comment
Swing into the batsman for Steyn, enough to challenge the forward defensive stroke of Cowan. Manages to keep it out.
Interesting to see that with so many runs to play with, South Africa still have only three slips and a gully.
8:06pm
Oracle said | 8:06pm | Report comment
A real pity the South African’s aren’t playing on Boxing Day. Should be a mandatory five Test series against them.
8:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:09pm | Report comment
I am quite surprised about the five-Test series bit as well. At least four if not five. Having two-Test series like they did last year is quite shambolic.
8:25pm
Red Kev said | 8:25pm | Report comment
They were talking on the radio about it, they wanted a 3 in Aus and 3 in SA series but it got hung up in which country the Boxing Day and New Years tests would be. Apparently next time it is likely to be 5 tests again with CA and the MCG to agree a compensation deal with South African board for missing out on holiday tests.
8:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:31pm | Report comment
Alright that’s interesting, because the two sides have never played in a five-match Test series since the Saffers came back in 1991-92. Hell they haven’t featured even in a four-match series!
I had heard of the canning of the previous deal because both boards wanted to host the series but Gerald Majola did not quite agree. But even with Majola out, will they still have a five-match series?
8:46pm
Red Kev said | 8:46pm | Report comment
They were talking about “whispers” not an agreement unfortunately. But they (I think it was Barry Richards and Jim Maxwell) seemed fairly confident that it would be a good outcome.
8:03pm
Andy_Roo said | 8:03pm | Report comment
I have missed al the play today. Can anyoen explain why Shane Watson only bowled nine overs? Is he injured again?
8:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:04pm | Report comment
He isn’t fit enough to be bowled too many…slowly working his way into bowling and with the target working its way into the realms of impossible, it wasn’t worth the risk anyway.
8:05pm
Red Kev said | 8:05pm | Report comment
I was surprised by that too, I would suggest it was medical staff words to Clarke that he couldn’t bowl too many. Don’t know though.
7:59pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:59pm | Report comment
The Australian openers are out with Ed Cowan leading the way for Dave Warner. Dale Steyn will look to steam in.
7:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:52pm | Report comment
And now he has his sixth!
South Africa have been bowled out with Starc doling out the perfect yorker. Morne Morkel manages to get his toes away but the bat does not get down in time and the stump is sent cartwheeling!
South Africa have been bowled out for 569 and Australia need 632 runs to win. I must add that if they get there, it should get to being an exciting chase. They have 14 overs to bat today.
Back in 5 minutes with the Australian reply.
7:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:49pm | Report comment
Starc gets a five-for!
It was a short one again and Steyn tries to upper cut it yet again, the top-edge goes through to the keeper and South Africa are nine down.
This are his best bowling figures in this format of the game.
9/569 and a lead of 631 for the Saffers. They continue on.
7:45pm
dasilva said | 7:45pm | Report comment
So the commentators are advocating attempted injuries to the south african fast bowlers
Well if we want to be ruthless
Aren’t the bowlers allowed 2 beamers before they get forcibly removed from the attack?
7:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:44pm | Report comment
Steyn and Philander are defending stoutly and copping a bit of short stuff from the bowlers here. Should be fun when the pair come out to the bowl
7:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:39pm | Report comment
Up and over from Steyn and cut away to third-man for a four. Starc has been doling out short balls at the batsman and he finally takes the bait. 629 ahead here.
7:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:33pm | Report comment
Going into the last drinks break of the day, South Africa are 563/8. 19 overs remaining in the day.
7:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:26pm | Report comment
Edged and gone, caught by the keeper!
That is the end of an excellent innings from de Villiers. He was walking away from the stumps, giving himself room and Starc bowled it on the off, angling away. de Villiers manages to get only an edge and he is gone for 169!
Starc’s got four as well.
Will they declare now?
7:42pm
Oracle said | 7:42pm | Report comment
What an innings, what a gun de Villiers is at his best.
7:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:22pm | Report comment
Johnson coming in from round the stumps and it has been hit against the direction in which it came from! Vernon smashes it over the extra-cover region for a four!
7/556 with the lead up to 618. Last 10 overs have cost Australia 84 runs.
7:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:19pm | Report comment
A four to each of Vernon Philander and AB de Villiers in the last couple of overs. The lead’s swollen up to 614.
7:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:13pm | Report comment
Johnson doing his best to try and bag his fifth. He now has 4/97, which is an average of 24 per wicket – a whopping number given that South Africa have got around to 550!
2:24am
Lolly said | 2:24am | Report comment
He bowled far better than Starc for all Starc ended up getting the tail-enders and the six for. Shame he’s such a nutter as he’s really looked a test match bowler and player in this game. Quite superb fielding.
7:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:07pm | Report comment
Another one bites the dust to another super catch!
Peterson tries to pull it away, gets a top-edge and take one guess who catches it! Mitchell Johnson runs in from mid-on and holds on to his fourth catch – all four of supremely high quality!
7/539 and one way or the other, the innings may not last too long from here given how they are going…
7:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:06pm | Report comment
Ab de Villiers is almost done in by Mitchell Starc – a yorker length ball that misses his bat and stumps by a whisker.
In fact the Hot-Spot shows that there was a nick on the bat before it flew off to the keeper, who dropped it.
7:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:01pm | Report comment
Johnson gets his fourth as du Plessis edges it to the lone slip, but…
…but, worry not, it is not a review or anything! What was interesting about that delivery was that it rose up from length and the batsman was taken aback, before poking his bat out and edging it to Michael Clarke! Hmm, that will worry the Aussies!
7:01pm
Red Baron said | 7:01pm | Report comment
Finally! Farewell Faf! Channel 9 has almost got a whole Summer’s worth of classic catches in this match!
7:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:03pm | Report comment
Haha! well put, who would have thought in an innings where almost 600 would be scored will also have five excellent catches in their own right.
7:06pm
Red Baron said | 7:06pm | Report comment
And another! haha Mitchell Johnson should give the magic spray he uses on his hands to the Wallabies!
6:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:58pm | Report comment
South Africa is 600 runs ahead! But wait they are reviewing this one!
Hits him on his pads, and there is a stifled appeal which the bowler gives up thinking it is an inside edge. The umpire calls it leg-byes to which the fielding team looks to call for the DRS. Ball pitching outside the leg-stump and it is a 600-run lead after all.
I had said five minutes ago that it may not take more than 15 minutes to get them to 600 and it has taken them exactly five.
6:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:54pm | Report comment
Four and a single to de Villiers and he gets to his 150!
One is a conventional sweep that gets him a four before driving down the ground for a singe to get to his seventh score of 150.
And then…he goes on to his back-foot, awaits for the ball to loop up and slogs it over the wide long-on fence for a massive SIX!
6:54pm
Johnno said | 6:54pm | Report comment
STH Africa have been really freed up by no Tahir. He copped 0/260. Much better team, and Philander is a step up from Klenidvledt , he sure makes a difference to the attack, Phillander. I worry this game would of been even more of a thrashing had Kallis been able to bowl.
Kallis bowling with the wind behind him and reverse swing would off been a handful.
6:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:57pm | Report comment
There is no doubt that Tahir turned out to be the weak-link last game for the Saffers after he was built up to be ‘the one’ when he was dropped from the first Test line-up. We are just finding out the answer to the question, “How much did that last Adelaide day really affect both teams?”
6:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:52pm | Report comment
Five overs have been bowled since tea and they have scored 51. If one thought they would get to a lead of 600 by the close, one was very far off the mark because it will take them not more than 15 more minutes to get there!
6:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:51pm | Report comment
Another one through backward point and another for four…the bleeding does not stop as du Plessis gets another boundary.
Third four in the over for Faf and this is the best of the lot as it is on middle and on a good length, but flicked away to mid-wicket for a boundary.
5/518.
6:51pm
Red Baron said | 6:51pm | Report comment
Will not be sad to see the back of Faf after this test. The guy is just too good and on the odd occasion where he stuffs up seems to have more luck than Robbie Deans.
6:55pm
dasilva said | 6:55pm | Report comment
I agree he will probably become the greatest number 7 batsman in the world (why on earth is he batting before Elgar?)
Showing his versatility in this tour, he can bat all day in a defensive effort and he can counterpunch and rescue the team and now he is smacking us around
6:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:49pm | Report comment
Mitchell Johnson replacing Hastings, who has gone for 0/102 in 19. Not quite in the Imran Tahir mould but three-fourths of the way there I guess.
A four through the backward point region now, sliced away by Faf. It is 5/510 with this stand now being 74 off 70 balls.
6:46pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:46pm | Report comment
Slogged away for a six!
It was outside the off stump and AB de Villiers slams it over mid-wicket for a six! Follows it up by giving himself room and trying to slice it over extra-cover, but gets it to the sweeper for a single.
This is getting painful for Australia.
6:43pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:43pm | Report comment
Another short ball has been demolished to the fence!
Hastings has pitched it in his half again and de Villiers swats it away over mid-wicket for the second four this over, 11 off this over and it looks evident that South Africa are not looking to bat tomorrow.
Lead of 557
6:43pm
Johnno said | 6:43pm | Report comment
Hastings is useless at test level. The worst aussy pace bowler in the last 20 years to have played test cricket for Australia. Clint Mckay, Scott Muller, and Paul “Blocker” Wilson didn’t cop such punishment. Hasitings has let the side down all test match. Takes the pressure off everytime he comes on too bowl.
The other 4 bowlers(Johnson,Starc,lyon,Watson) have been quite good but let down big time by Hastings taking the pressure off all tests match. Bird or Hazelwood, should of played, bit wicket takers, I would off gone with Bird.
6:41pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:41pm | Report comment
Pulled almost off the front foot for four!
Faf has hit it over the mid-on fielder for a four to one that is short and shorn of pace! Not good bowling from Hastings.
5/488
6:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:39pm | Report comment
Down the pitch and drilled through wide mid-on for a four. AB de Villiers continues to pile it on and is now on 130 as South Africa go ahead by 546.
One thing is getting clear and that is that Australia will not be the number one team at the end of the series.
6:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:36pm | Report comment
Nathan Lyon tries his luck now from the other end.
6:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:35pm | Report comment
Leading edge over mid-off!
It was the middle stump and he wanted to play it to the on-side did Faf, but gets a leading edge. Lobs over Mitch Johnson at mid-off and they get a couple.
5/472
6:32pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:32pm | Report comment
Back after the tea break and for the first time in this Test match the last session may not go overtime, with only 32 overs to go.
Batsmen out in the middle, followed by the fielders.
de Villiers on strike.
6:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:13pm | Report comment
Reverse sweep again!
Whoa what a shot! This was reversed with the bat as straight as it can be in front of the batsman, and as a result it goes as fine as it did there! Ab de Villiers is absolutely toying with them now, going into the tea break on 5/467 in 96.
32 overs remain in the last session. I would have said that you can expect them to accelerate now but they are already playing at almost five an over!
Back in 15.
6:17pm
Red Kev said | 6:17pm | Report comment
A lead of 600 and an overnight declaration from Smith I reckon.
6:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:37pm | Report comment
Given how Australia fared with the bat on that first day, three down for nothing, I will vouch for a few overs before close today.
6:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:10pm | Report comment
Smacked down the ground for a four!
AB de Villiers has walked down to Hastings and banished it to the right of the bowler…for a four that takes him to 111 and the lead to 524!
Tea after an over.
6:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:05pm | Report comment
At the other end, Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s saviour from Adelaide and in the first innings is now looking to settle in here.
South Africa have gotten up to 5/455 in 94 and it is Hastings coming on now.
5:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:56pm | Report comment
Back to back boundaries for AB de Villiers and both are off reverse sweeps to the bowling of Nathan Lyon!
And will you believer it, AB de Villiers has got to his 14th Test match hundred with a third reverse sweep in the over!
His first of the series and will be a relief for him after an otherwise modest series.
4/436
5:56pm
Red Kev said | 5:56pm | Report comment
Three reverse sweeps in a row for three boundaries for De Villiers to get himself through the 90s to a hundred – awesome.
5:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:51pm | Report comment
Dean Elgar has become the 38th cricketer in the history of Test cricket to get a pair on debut.
Saeed Anwa, Marwan Atapattu and Graham Gooch are some of the more prominent ones to have got a pair on Test match debut!
5:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:45pm | Report comment
Three balls, he struggles, he is hit and is finally is given out lbw, gone for a pair!
This is tragedy for the debutant Dean Elgar, who is caught on the crease and misses a straighter one from Johnson. Misses the bat and hits the pads, given out after bit of a thought and Jacques Rudolph might be heaving a bit of a sigh here.
Two wickets in an over and we have Faf du Plessis at the crease.
5/436
5:50pm
Red Kev said | 5:50pm | Report comment
Surely Rudolph will still lose his spot, won’t it be Smith, Peterson, Amla, Smith, De Villiers, Duminy, Du Plessis?
5:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:53pm | Report comment
Duminy is out for six months they say. Even after coming back, how he goes about his batting will be a concern.
5:55pm
Red Kev said | 5:55pm | Report comment
Ahh, didn’t realise it was a 6-month layoff, bummer for him.
6:44pm
dasilva said | 6:44pm | Report comment
Does anyone know why Elgar is batting above Du Plessis. It just seem madness for FAF to bat at number 7
5:38pm
Red Kev said | 5:38pm | Report comment
Tragedy for Amla, 196 … that’s gotta hurt, great catch by Johnson (again) though. 4 wickets and there have been 4 really good catches to get them.
5:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:38pm | Report comment
Whoa, whatacatch from Johnson!
Amla was trying to punch it back down the ground and he got it in the air, Johnson brings his hand out to his right and plucks it one-handed! He is a left-hander and catches that to his right!
Poor Amla, he has missed out on a deserved double-century, gone for 196.
5:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:37pm | Report comment
And Johnson has now been pulled away through wide mid-on for a four! Agony continues!
5:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Moves closer to 200 with a cut to the fence!
Amla gets out wider outside off and that is cut away to the backward point fence for another boundary. He gets to 196 with a single following that boundary.
3/432
5:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:33pm | Report comment
A much better from Johnson, testing for AB de Villiers, but there have been far too less of such balls.
3/425 in 87. Both batsmen approaching landmarks here, 190 for Amla, 82 for AB de Villiers.
5:35pm
Johnno said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Hastings has really let down the side. He has put a lot of pressure, on Johnson and Starc and Lyon all test match. I don’t think he will get another crack at test cricket unless he really steps up in the sheffield shield. Hinsight is a powerful thing, I bet the selectors wish now they played Bird or Hazelwood. Bird has a very good record at the WACA. And is a natural wicket taker and faster than Hastings. Hastings reminds me of Clint Mckay , he is not fast enough for this level , and lacks variety.
6:26pm
James said | 6:26pm | Report comment
Not sure whether any of the bowlers get any credit for this performance
I didn’t think Bird had bowled in a first class match at the Waca
5:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:26pm | Report comment
Punched through the covers for a four!
de Villiers has tapped one on the good length and it races away through the covers for another four, that is the seventh boundary since the new ball was taken.
3/421
5:23pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:23pm | Report comment
Consistency of lines and lengths is an obvious issue and while this does not go to the fence, here are four deliveries that are on the money before one down the leg side is flicked away by Ab de Villiers.
3/416, only two from Johnson’s return over.
5:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:19pm | Report comment
Only two overs from Hastings and he is off. Mitchell Johnson comes in now.
5:19pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:19pm | Report comment
Late dab through the slips for a four!
Opens the face of the bat and guides it through the slips does AB de Villiers and gets a four.
And then he edges one through the gully region for a second four in the over as the runs continue to flow.
3/414 in 84
5:12pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:12pm | Report comment
Cut away to the fence by Amla!
Block, block, block and four! That was short and wide from Hastings, who has been poor this innings and easily slashed away through the covers.
3/405
5:09pm
Red Kev said | 5:09pm | Report comment
Well the first two overs with the new ball have pretty much been runs on a platter served up by the bowlers. Fair to say the selectors gambled with a completely new bowling attack and it has backfired massively.
6:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:16pm | Report comment
More than a gamble I will call it 12 of one and a dozen of the other…what if Siddle and Hilfenhaus, or even one of them had gone into the game and broken down like how Pattinson did at Adelaide. The effect of that Pattinson injury can be seen in the score-line, could have easily been 1-0.
The blame on the selectors in such a case would have been massive…it must have been a tough call either way and they decided to go with the second option. Let’s also not forget, South Africa were bowled out for 225 in their first innings, which is pretty decent going for the bowling team. Their depth on a batting-friendly wicket second time around has been found out obviously.
6:39pm
James said | 6:39pm | Report comment
Sorry, have to disagree here. The problem at Adelaide was that the team was unbalanced without Watson. We really need 5 decent bowling options. I know we used to get away with only 4 bowlers but those were the days of Warne and McGrath
7:11pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:11pm | Report comment
What I was trying to say was in reply to Red Kev saying that the decision to bring in two new bowlers was a gamble – I was only saying that even if Siddle and/or Hilfenhaus played and got injured, the selectors would have copped a lot of flak. And given the state that Siddle and Hilfenhaus were in after the Adelaide game, there was a good chance that would have happened, just like it happened with Pattinson.
So in the end, the selectors were left with one of two gambles to make and well, this one hasn’t worked for sure.
7:27pm
Johnno said | 7:27pm | Report comment
James we also had guys like Gillespie, Lee, Stuey Clarke, Kaspowritsz all highly capable bowlers in there own right. And guys like colin Miller, and stuey Mcgill too. And guys like Andy Bichel and Adam Dale were very reliable too.
5:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:09pm | Report comment
Blown away to the cover boundary by AB de Villiers!
So far only one team is winning in this battle of the new ball, a four driven through the covers takes him to 66 and Starc, despite his two wickets has gone for 113 in his 21.
3/400 in the 83rd
5:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:06pm | Report comment
Seven off the over from Hastings. Mitchell Starc from the other end.
And he immediately concedes a boundary to Ab de Villiers. Poor line, on the leg stump, on length and easily tucked away to deep square-leg.
3/394 in the 82nd
5:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:02pm | Report comment
Slashes his way to a half-century does AB!
That was short and wide and new ball or not, it was there to be hit, and hit it was! Ab de Villiers gets to his fifty, having added 100 this partnership.
5:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:00pm | Report comment
A couple of runs off the over, including attempts to bounce the batsman out. Lovely reaction from the crowd too.
Serious business now. New ball taken. Last attempt to puncture the Saffers middle-order before they take control of the game in totality. Hastings will get the chance to bowl with it.
4:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:57pm | Report comment
Last over before the new ball, which looks like it will be inevitably taken as soon as it is due and it is the legendary Ricky Ponting with the ball.
4:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:54pm | Report comment
So Clarke continues with Hussey despite the two fours first over this spell and follows it up with five runs in his next.
3/378 with about two overs before the new ball
4:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:45pm | Report comment
Four and a four!
This is not getting any better for the Aussies, one is cut away to the deep point fence and the next is driven down the ground for another four to long-off. Eight off.
That is the end of the 75th over, five more overs and Clarke will have his hands on that bright, new red cherry.
4:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:44pm | Report comment
And after he concedes five in his first over, there is another bowling change, from the other end. Michael Hussey brought in.
Hussey had conceded 11 in his first over yesterday.
4:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:40pm | Report comment
Change in bowling now as Mitchell Johnson gives way to Dave Warner. That’s his first bowl this innings.
4:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:38pm | Report comment
…alright, can I scratch that? Immediately after I write that, he goes down the track and smashes Lyon over long-on for a six. And then follows it up with a reverse paddle sweep for a four off the next one!
3/351 now
4:42pm
Rhys said | 4:42pm | Report comment
Suneer, what target to you think South Africa will look to set Australia in the 4th innings?
I guess they’ll be mindful that they themselves chased down 414 last time they played at the WACA, and only lost 4 wickets in the chase. Given there are still 2 and half days to play, 550-600 maybe?
4:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Yes Rhys, as things currently stand there isn’t much in the track. More than the target alone, they will look at a couple of other factors.
Can they bat long enough to allow themselves time to get the 10 wickets, but at the same time, push the Aussies to mental and physical weariness and bring about some wear and tear from the track as well.
4:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:36pm | Report comment
Three runs in the last two overs. Not too many attempts to score, which is bit of a surprise…
4:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:35pm | Report comment
As Australia grapple to pick up wickets, this is the only one to have fallen today…like yesterday, Australia have caught well even today. But only once.
4:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:30pm | Report comment
Pulled away to the fence for four!
AB de Villiers has made use of the short ball from Johnson and given it a thump to deep square-leg. The lead, with that stroke, gets to 400. Australia have bowled much better than yesterday but it still is not good enough to get too many wickets.
4:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:25pm | Report comment
Johnson’s bowling from round the stumps at Amla but the lack of swing or seam isn’t helping the bowlers.
The lead’s crept up to 393
4:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:22pm | Report comment
A single for Amla that over from Johnson before de Villiers goes back into his blocking mode, batting on 22 off 59.
3/326
4:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:17pm | Report comment
Down the ground and smacks it down the ground for a four!
de Villiers has decided to take Lyon on and he takes the ball on the full to drill it down the ground for a four. Mid-on was up for de Villiers, unlike for Amla.
4:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:15pm | Report comment
Driven down the ground for a single to get to his 150 Amla.
4:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:14pm | Report comment
Back on after the lunch break. The innings is 66 overs old, which means that the new ball is only 14 overs away.
Amla on strike, facing Nathan Lyon.
3:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:38pm | Report comment
End of a maiden over last one before lunch and South Africa have practically crawled here. But even with that, they have scored 90 in the 28 overs sent down.
Amla, like yesterday, started quickly, but after Kallis’ wicket, slowed down. More respect for the bowlers from him and then from de Villiers.
The sole wicket to fall went to Mitchell Starc, it was Kallis dismissed, pulling one to fine-leg.
The lead is 382 and the Saffers will look to bat on for a couple of sessions today at least. Back in 35.
3:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:33pm | Report comment
Last over of the session and it is very cautious stuff from AB de Villiers. Letting everything go through to the keeper.
3:29pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:29pm | Report comment
Meandering along now, only 22 runs have come in the last 10 overs – the first such period of play for Australia. Should be enthusing.
Amla’s on 149.
3:23pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:23pm | Report comment
Lyon’s got no turn today. He is pitching them right up to the bat and the one that he is not, he is pushing them through quickly.
3/317 in 63
3:20pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:20pm | Report comment
Not a lot happening in terms of runs and that has something to do with Amla having decided to start showing more respect to the bowlers. For the first time in many overs, Amla’s strike-rate has dropped to below 100.
147 off 149.
3:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:16pm | Report comment
Some good work from Warner, who dives at short cover and in the same motion throws it down at the non-striker’s end, hits the stumps too. Amla’s well home.
3/315
3:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:10pm | Report comment
End of that Lyon over, a decent start to this spell of his. There is a reverse sweep that de Villiers attempts and gets through for three but Lyon will not mind that I presume.
3/310 in 59.
3:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:07pm | Report comment
Change in bowling now as Nathan Lyon comes on. This should be interesting as Amla hasn’t got too many runs last 15 or 20 minutes, so how he goes against the spinner will be one to watch.
3:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:03pm | Report comment
Down the leg-side and flicked it to the wicket-keeper, who dives to his left and grabs a good take, only problem is that it’s come off the thigh pads.
This has been a better spell from Mitch Starc as we approach the last 30 minutes before lunch
3/303
2:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:57pm | Report comment
Full-toss on the pads and it is hit through the on-side for his first boundary of the day, bringing up their 300 as well.
After scores of 225 and 163 to get to 2/300 is stunning.
2:46pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:46pm | Report comment
Two runs off the Watson over takes South Africa’s lead to more than 350. And Amla goes on to his back foot and opens the face of the bat to guide a Starc delivery through to the vacant third-man region for a four.
3/293
2:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:39pm | Report comment
Kallis has pulled Starc to fine-leg!
This is almost against the run of play as Kallis was looking as solid if not as quickly-scoring as Amla. This was dug in short from Starc and he went for the pull, gets a bit of top edge and Johnson at fine-leg takes a good running catch.
3/287 and Australia have some respite.
2:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:36pm | Report comment
Mitchell Starc from the end where Hastings bowled a nine-over spell for 26. One hour’s play has yielded 47 runs for no loss.
2:38pm
Martin D. said | 2:38pm | Report comment
So long as they keep selling Vic. Bitter, all is well.
2:32pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:32pm | Report comment
Three runs from Watson’s first over. Attempts to pitch it up to the bat and get it to swing around at pace not too dissimilar from Hastings.
Drinks now. 2/286 in 51.
2:28pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:28pm | Report comment
Watson is now on. As I see it, he won’t bowl too many here – four to five at maximum in this spell. At least that is what has been happening so far.
2:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:24pm | Report comment
33 of the 48 runs have come off the bat of Amla today. And even as I write that, Jacques Kallis walks across to the off stump and even he flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for a four.
Hastings’ lack of pace is allowing them to play this stroke easily.
2:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:22pm | Report comment
Amla has become the third batsman after Clarke and Cook to get to 1000 runs this Test match calendar year.
2:21pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:21pm | Report comment
Pushed for a four!
It is not a bad delivery at all. In fact, had it been swinging evening slightly, it would have become a good one.
What happens when you have a batsman in such good form is that even such good deliveries are sent away and this one, on a length, on off stump is drilled through the covers.
And follows it up with a cut through backward point now, for another four!
2/278
2:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:14pm | Report comment
Outside the off stump and there is no pace or swing on that one from Hastings and Kallis cuts it through backward point for a four.
2/268
2:12pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:12pm | Report comment
Outside the off stump, in fact it is quite wide and look at Amla, he has jumped outside and tries to whip it away to the leg-side. Follows it up with an attempted drive through the covers before going for an upper cut that he misses.
Last ball, he goes for a drive through the covers and it almost takes the outside edge en route to the keeper.
Signs of loss of concentration?
2/264 in 47
2:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:08pm | Report comment
Mitchell Starc coming in from the end where Johnson bowled today.
2:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:04pm | Report comment
Four for Amla!
It is outside the off stump and Amla guides it through the slips for a four. Getting easy for Amla here.
2/260 in 45
2:01pm
Chris said | 2:01pm | Report comment
We are rapidly seeing not only why Johnson was dropped, but also why he should never have played Test cricket again.
2:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:01pm | Report comment
At the half hour mark in the day, it has been decent bowling from Australia but not much of help from the pitch. And then of course, Amla is in the middle of a master-class.
26 runs scored today. Let’s also remember that we are in the first hour of the third day. South Africa can bat for ages and still get away with 180 overs of bowling to try and get Australia out.
1:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:58pm | Report comment
Amla begins the 44th over of the day, bowled by Hastings by shuffling to outside the off stump and flicking it to fine-leg for a single and follows up with a punch through the covers for a couple of runs.
2/251 in 44
1:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:53pm | Report comment
Full-toss and half a chance!
Wide outside the off stump, fuller and for some reason, Amla goes for it – it isn’t the 50th over of an ODI, Hashim! – it flies off the bottom and almost to the hands of a flying Hussey at gully. Gets his hand to it, hits it and still goes to third-man for a four.
2/247
1:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:51pm | Report comment
Amla times it away to the fence!
This is the second four of the day for Amla and it is cover driven, punched in fact and it leaves the fielders knowing that they cannot chase it!
1:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:49pm | Report comment
Hastings has bowled a couple of overs that haven’t allowed the batsmen too much room outside the off to play those blazing strokes through the covers.
And given it is the early bit in the day, Amla’s not yet walked across like he had yesterday.
2/237
1:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:45pm | Report comment
Driven through the cover!
It is a length ball on the off stump and Amla punches it through the covers, bringing up his first four of the day! It was not an over-pitched ball by any stretch but Amla showing ominous signs of form, continuing from the second day.
1:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:40pm | Report comment
Maiden for Hastings
More or less within the stump, pitched up as well from Hastings. Not in too much hurry is South Africa or Jacques Kallis. Play out all of them to the off side
1:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:36pm | Report comment
This is a good first over from Johnson, bowling a good line on or around the off stump. A couple of runs in that first one.
2/232 and John Hastings takes up the attack other end.
1:34pm
Photon said | 1:34pm | Report comment
If Australia don’t bowl South Africa out, them Smith will bat all day today and probably half of tomorrow’s opening session. There is no way Ith will even consider declaring before that lead is 600 because of what happened 4 years ago and the amount of time left in this game. I also think this pitch will only become like a 4th day pitch on day 5 so Smith will want to make sure Australia have to bat well into the last day if they want to win
1:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:33pm | Report comment
Century for Amla!
There it is, century number 18 in Test match cricket for Amla as he tucks Johnson to fine-leg for a single. Only 87 balls to get there!
1:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:31pm | Report comment
Amla will take strike, Mitchell Johnson with the ball and immediately a bouncer to begin with.
1:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:30pm | Report comment
The lead is nearing 300 for South Africa, Hashim Amla is nearing 100 and if Australia do not get early wickets, they will be nearing frustration as we see players take field.
1:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 1:07pm | Report comment
Hello and welcome to the start of the third day’s play between two number one aspirants, Australia and South Africa from the WACA in Perth. The game’s tilted heavily in favour of the tourists for now but games in this series have seen stranger and quick changes, one hope that Australia will cling on. Suneer Chowdhary here to take you through the day’s play.