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An entertaining career best innings of 47 by Nathan Lyon and an impressive 77 by Cameron Bancroft has pulled Australia back from an embarrassing first innings total to be only 66 runs behind South Africa’s first innings score on the second day of an intriguing third test at Newlands. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 3 from 7:30pm (AEDT).
After holding Australia at bay for 90 overs on the first day, South African opener Dean Elgar carried his bat for the third time in his career and becoming the first cricketer to hold it twice in a calendar year.
Elgar’s unbeaten 141 was an innings characterised by his trademark determination, toughness and discipline.
Australia were desperate to keep South Africa under 300 but Elgar and fiery fast-bowler Kagiso Rabada kept them at bay with an important 50 run ninth-wicket partnership.
Australia’s fast-bowlers were guilty of over-utilisation of the bouncer barrage. Rabada primarily rode his fortune numerous times with his attempted pulls evading fielders.
It took Nathan Lyon, who later would play a far more important role with the bat, to get the final two wickets of Rabada and Morne Morkel: both caught at slip by captain Steve Smith. South Africa amassed a total of 311.
Australia started positively with both Bancroft and particularly David Warner providing a blistering start.
It was obvious that Warner was trying to prove a point to Rabada as he hit him for 4,4,6,4 in successive deliveries.
But Rabada as he has been throughout the series, came back strongly by bowling a perfect delivery that took Warner’s off stump for a cartwheel.
Morkel followed this up with the wickets of Smith and struggling Usman Khawaja, both for five with deliveries that shot up from a length and in the process becoming only the fifth South African bowler to reach that landmark.
Bancroft on the other end looked as assured as he has in his short test career. With Shaun Marsh for support, Bancroft counterattacked with some glorious drives front of the wicket.
A crucial 78-run partnership was ended once again by the retiring Morkel who ended Marsh’s innings by nicking him off.
Bancroft followed suit shortly after to Vernon Philander who nipped an inswinger trapping him in front. Bancroft’s innings included 14 boundaries.
Philander then had Marsh caught behind and Rabada followed suit by dismissing Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins without disturbing the score too much. Australia were reeling at 175 for 8.
But Lyon’s attacking innings which featured eight boundaries including some scorching drives on the up would have settled the nervous dressing room.
A vital 66-run partnership with impressive Tim Paine has cut the deficit to as much as the partnership was worth. Lyon was dismissed by Morkel who finished the day with an impressive 4-87.
This sets up of what should be an outstanding day of cricket. A day where the team who has the upper hand should go a long way to winning the third test match. Let’s pray that the rain stays away.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Day 3 from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
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