Good morning and welcome to the third day of the final Test between Australia and South Africa. It took a tremendous effort from Usman Khawaja to score an exceptional century on the second day. It was one of the better centuries, in fighting conditions, seen by an Australian in recent times. His century not only gave Australia stability, but also eventually gave them the lead of 48 by the time stumps were called. South Africa, however, staged a late fightback in the final session to pick up some quick wickets, but it was Australia that took honours on the second day. How many runs will Australia's tail get with Khawaja who has held his end exceptionally well? Or will South Africa bowl Australia out early? We'll find out soon enough.
Stephen Cook steadies South Africa with a strong fifty. © Cricbuzz
David Warner to kickstart proceedings in the final session.
The mammoth innings has finally come to an end as Philander traps Usman Khawaja right in front of middle after coming in almost like a leg-cutter. Khawaja has nothing to lose, so reviews it. The ball is shown crashing into the stumps and the decision is upheld. A brilliant innings from Khawaja finally comes to an end with Australia leading by 68. Will he floodgates open now?
Australia getting some handy runs via Starc who has a fifty now. These runs are crucial for Australia and every run the tail is getting here can come back to hurt South Africa. That said, there isn't much that the pitch is offering for the bowlers, so the batsmen seem to be making merry.
Ah, and Starc chips it straight back to Rabada, first ball after drinks. Starc makes his way back for 53. Australia are 357 for 8. Nathan Lyon is the next man in, who drives through mid-on to take Australia's lead past 100.
Shamsi gets his first Test wicket after Lyon attempts a sweep but ends up top-edging it to Amla, who takes an easy catch. Australia are 9 down... The lead is at 111. How many more can they get?
South Africa have done well to get the final four wickets within the first session of the third day. However, the session also yielded quick runs for Australia that scored 76 runs since morning, taking their lead to 124. Although Usman Khawaja perished early, Mitchell Starc scored some quick runs and got to a half-century. Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird and chipped in with a few runs that eventually saw Australia ending their innings at 383 as early Tea was taken. Jackson Bird was the last man to be dismissed, who edged a short and wide delivery from Rabada straight into the hands of Faf du Plessis who held on rather well to that chance. Join us when the teams make it to the middle after a short break.
Mitchell Starc carries forward momentum from his knock with the bat to his bowling as he accounts for Dean Elgar in the first over of the second session. The South African opener hadn't even opened his account when he got an outside edge against a ball that swung away late that flew to Steve Smith at slip, who took a beauty! South Africa are 1 for 1 as Hashim Amla makes his way to the middle.
Starc raising his bat to celebrate his half-century. ©Reuters
Starc changes ends and almost has a wicket immediately, but Matt Renshaw gets one hand to the edge and the catch is spilled. Was it a keeper's catch? Or first slip? Either way, Amla gets a life. Big miss for Australia!
And Hazlewood does it again! Hashim Amla had no riposte to a delivery that moved away just enough, getting a faint edge that flew to the wicketkeeter. Matthew Wade makes no mistake as Josh Hazlewood accounts for Amla for the fifth time this series. Amla reviews immediately, but both HotSpot and Snicko show evidence of an edge. He departs for 45.
In this series, Hazlewood to Amla reads: 5 innings, 29 runs in52 balls.
South Africa ended the second session strongly, going into Dinner 100 for 2, trailing Australia by 24 after a fine rescue act from Hashim Amla and Stephen Cook, who added 81 for the second wicket.When Dinner was taken, Cook was unbeaten on 43, joined by JP Duminy (5) in the middle. Amla was lucky to have been given a life once, but when he tested his luck again by reviewing the edge to the wicketkeeper, luck wasn't on his side as he had to depart for 45, giving Josh Hazlewood bragging rights as the lanky paceman has accounted for Amla's wicket all series. With South Africa trailing by just 24, the final session will be one in which they will want to build on the lead. How many can they get at the end of the day? We'll find out soon enough.
Stephen Cook has held his end rather well after a scratchy start to go on to score his second Test half-century. It has been a solid innings from him that was required as South Africa worked towards scaling Australia's lead and then building on from there. The fifty will give him confidence - something that he was seemingly lacking all series.
Nathan Lyon finally gets rewarded for his brilliant bowling to left-hander Duminy. He frustrated Duminy by not letting him get those free runs. Duminy finally tried to hit across the line, but missed the ball that went crashing into his offstump. Lyon gives Australia the breakthrough they were looking for after a 49-run stand.
Adelaide welcomes Faf du Plessis with another round of boos.
BIG wicket for Australia! A rare, rare failure for Faf du Plessis in Adelaide, who averaged over 300 before this dismissal at the venue. Rewarded for some superb bowling! A hint of reverse from Starc? The ball skids off and is there to drive. Du Plessis gets an edge that flies towards gully where Peter Handscomb dives and holds on. Great catch from the debutant to send back the South African captain. Brilliant spell from Starc - fast, venomous and unplayable! Brilliant for viewing!
South Africa are essentially 30 for 4, given that their lead is just that.
Nathan Lyon strikes to dismiss Temba Bavuma with less than four overs to go for stumps. Attempting the paddle sweep, the ball came on a tad quickly to get the outside edge and lob up. Steve Smith took an easy catch as the umpire adjudged the batsman out. Bavuma, however, took his own sweet time to decide to review it, causing Smith to have a word with the umpire. Nevertheless, replays show there was glove on it and Bavuma has to go. This is brilliant for Australia with South Africa being five down with a lead of just 66. Can they get another before stumps?
Oh, yes they can! Lyon traps Kyle Abbott leg before for a duck in the last over of the day as South Africa lose two wickets in successive overs to the offspinner. The batsman was pinned so deep in the crease, it looked like the it would go onto crash into leg stump. Australia well on top!
Another intriguing day of Test cricket in Adelaide comes to an end with South Africa 194 for 6. Nathan Lyon puts Australia in control going into the fourth day with two late wickets as South Africa end the day with a lead of just 70, with four wickets remaining. Another final session that turned things around.
Start of the day, Australia's tail wagged and added some crucial runs that have made a difference in the larger scheme of things, thanks to some brilliance from the Australian bowlers. Stephen Cook, the South African opener, however, held his end for the innings for far, albeit with scratchy patches as Australia picked up wickets at crucial junctures. When stumps were drawn, Cook was unbeaten on 81 with Quinton de Kock having just had come in and face three deliveries before stumps were drawn.
Earlier, Josh Hazlewood picked up Hashim Amla for the fifth time in the series just when he was approaching his half-century while Lyon dismissed JP Duminy when a partnership was building. Starc returned to send back the gritty Faf du Plessis whose love affair with the Adelaide Oval came to a reasonable end as he exited for 12.
Lyon struck to get Temba Bavuma with just four overs left in the day. Bavuma attempted to play the paddle sweep but got the outside edge that hit the arm and lobbed up to Steve Smith who took it comfortably. In what was another horror referral, Bavuma reviewed the decision only to be given out as Kyle Abbott joined Stephen Cook in the middle with Starc steaming in. However, it was Lyon who returned in the next over to trap the burly South African bowler in front, with the umpire having an easy decision to make, ensuring de Kock had to come in, even if it was just for three balls.
The game could well be over on the fourth day if Australia can dismiss the remainder of South Africa's batsmen without too much damage done to the scoreboard. The start that de Kock and Cook will be key as Australia have momentum on their side.
Thank you for joining us on the third day of play. Do join us for an interesting fourth day tomorrow. Until then, goodbye!
