Establishing a massive 189-run first innings lead, Australia are well on their way to claiming a resounding victory in the first test against South Africa. Join The Roar for live scores from 7pm (AEDT).
On a slower than expected pitch in Durban, neither Australia or South Africa gained the upper hand after four even sessions to start the first test.
Chasing 352 for a first innings lead, the Proteas would’ve fancied their chances of equalling or even exceeding Australia’s total on a flat track.
Picking an extra batsman to combat the visitors formidable bowling unit, South Africa seemed well prepared to utilise the best batting conditions of the test.
What followed was a demolition job led by Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
Thrown the ball in just the 8th over after Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram made a solid start to the innings, Nathan Lyon struck with just his second delivery in South Africa.
Completing a brilliant diving catch of a leading edge from Elgar, Lyon had the home side in a spin, striking for a second time in the over as star batsman Hashim Amla departed for a duck, after meekly prodding to Cameron Bancroft at short leg.
With spin creating an opening into the Proteas batting line-up, the left arm pace of Mitchell Starc ripped it wide open.
Bowling around the wicket and often getting the ball to leave the right-handers, Starc’s lethal combination of pace, swing and accuracy was far too much to handle for South Africa, finishing with figures of 5-34.
Only AB de Villiers seemed untroubled by the bowling, posting an unbeaten 71.
Often appearing like he was batting on a different pitch to his teammates, de Villiers alone looked capable of pushing South Africa to a competitive total.
Conceding a lead of 189 at the end of Day 2, such a disparity between the two sides seemed unlikely when Australia lost 2-26 in the first 17 overs of the morning session.
Resuming their innings at 5-225, the visitors found it hard to rotate the strike initially, with Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj keeping things tight.
A 25-ball 35 from Mitchell Starc sparked Australia into action and despite a rash shot that saw him fall just four runs shy of his third test century, a brilliant innings from Mitchell Marsh led the visitors past 350.
Two terrific sessions have seen Australia take a stranglehold of the first test, and their grip is only likely to tighten as the teams enter Day 3.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Day 3 from 7pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
The Test match was as good as over by yesterday evening.
Mitch
Guest
Looks luke there is a bit more movement in the pitch maybey Hazelwood will have a blinda tomorrow.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
South Africa is going to loose the Test by over 200 runs.
AREH
Roar Guru
Slow left arm orthodox
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Stumps on Day 3 The umpires officially call it. South Africa played with a renewed effort today, picking up three wickets in each session. The Proteas leaked runs early, but pulled things back keeping Australia under 2.5 runs an over post lunch. Cam Bancroft returned to form, top scoring for the Aussies with a fluent 53. They will resume Day 4 with one wicket left in the bag and a considerable 402-run lead behind them. The pitch has started to show more signs of variable bounce, which will make batting on this pitch progressively harder. It already looks to be an unassailable target but if the likes of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis get going, they will believe they are a chance. I hope you enjoyed the Roar's coverage of Day 3, Scott will be back to take you through all the action of Day 4. Until next time, good night! Cummins 17 Hazlewood 4 Over: 71.4 Score: 213/9
AREH
Roar Guru
Despite averaging 47 in the Ashes and just under 40 in ten tests? He mightn't be as dynamic and powerful as others, but he is far from useless
Mitch
Guest
Yeah i was wondering about that even though light has talen alot od overs they have been very slow.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
So it's not stumps yet, but it doesn't seem too likely that the light will improve drastically.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
And with that boundary, the players are going off for bad light.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
FOUR! Superb shot from Hazlewood as drives a half volley from Morkel through mid off and that boundary also takes the lead past 400 for Australia. Cummins 17 Hazlewood 0
Over: 71.4 Score: 213/9
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Josh Hazlewood is the last man out for Australia.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
WICKET! And he strikes immediately! Bowled on a good length just outside off stump Morkel finds the edge of Lyon as the ball carries to Amla at first slip. Morkel has got three, what a turnaround! Cummins 17
Over: 71.1 Score: 209/9
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Morkel will continue after the drinks break.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
There are still 20 over still scheduled to be bowled but it looks exceedingly unlikely that we'll get through all of them.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
There are some very dark clouds hovering above the ground and the lights are in full effect at the moment.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Time for a drinks break.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Rabada ends the over with another bouncer which Cummins comfortably ducks under. Cummins 17 Lyon 2
Over: 71.0 Score: 209/8
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Dropped! That's flown of the edge of Lyon's bat but de Villiers can't complete the brilliant catch in the slips. It looks like he didn't pick it up till it reached him. Cummins 17 Lyon 1
Over: 70.3 Score: 208/8
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Very full and swinging in from Rabada but Lyon keeps it out, driving the ball to the man at mid on. Cummins 17 Lyon 1
Over: 70.2 Score: 208/8
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
Hold on here comes the light meter, but for now the game will continue.