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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft, Geoff Lemon & Adam Collins

Australia v South Africa: third Test, day three – as it happened

Australia surged towards victory late on day three of the third Test against South Africa.
Australia surged towards victory late on day three of the third Test against South Africa. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Stumps on day three - South Africa 194-6 lead Australia by 70

The third session was always going to shape the narrative of the day, and so it proved with Australia jagging four wickets, two at the death, to take a commanding position into day four.

All four bowlers performed admirably with Nathan Lyon finally showing the kind of form that means he’s now the third most prolific spinner in Australian Test history. Mitchell Starc provided the shock factor, Josh Hazlewood forced South Africa to play at everything, and Jackson Bird was an excellent foil in a series of bowling partnerships.

For the visitors there was only one redeeming story, Stephen Cook’s unbeaten 81. The opener never looked settled or graceful at the crease, but he battled hard, stuck to his task, and he’s given his side a glimmer of hope. He, and Quinton de Kock will need to push their lead from 70 to over 150 if a series sweep is to be completed. Right now, Australia are heavy favourites to salvage the victory their changing of the guard demanded.

We’ll be back to do this all again tomorrow, for how long remains to be seen.

Australia continued to hold the upper hand on day three of the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
Australia continued to hold the upper hand on day three of the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Updated

69th over: South Africa 194-6 (Cook 81, De Kock 0)

De Kock has to come out after all and he gets three beauties that drift and rip and spit that he can’t get anywhere near.

WICKET! Abbott LBW Lyon 0 (South Africa 194-6)

The pressure ramps up on the nightwatchman with men crowding around the bat and the tailender can’t handle Lyon’s off-spinner from around the wicket, playing all around one that hits his pad in front of leg stump. Australia rampant now.

68th over: South Africa 194-5 (Cook 81, Abbott 0)

Starc continues his marathon spell, but Cook’s up to the task, nudging a pair of twos and evading some serious heat from the paceman. Starc’s really given his all for his captain this session.

67th over: South Africa 190-5 (Cook 74, Abbott 0)

Kyle Abbott is the nightwatchman and he sees out the over.

Proper brain fade from Bavuma who not only threw his wicket away but burned the last review open to his side with a dreadful call to confirm he both edged and gloved Lyon’s delivery.

WICKET! Bavuma c Smith b Lyon 21 (South Africa 190-5)

Lyon has done it! But what was Bavuma thinking? He goes for a big sweep with four overs remaining, edges it onto his gloves and the ball loops up over Wade but Smith has anticipated well to run around and take a smart catch. the game tilts further Australia’s way.

Smart catch from Smith as Bavuma and Wade look on
Smart catch from Smith as Bavuma and Wade look on. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Updated

66th over: South Africa 187-4 (Cook 74, Bavuma 21)

Starc into the sixth over of his spell, encouraged to stay on an over longer than planned perhaps thanks to Bavuma’s aggression in the previous over? No further breakthroughs as the day nears its close.

South Africa lead by 63.

The lengths some people will go to avoid bumping into the Channel Nine commentary team.

65th over: South Africa 183-4 (Cook 73, Bavuma 18)

Lyon recalled to bowl his offies to the right-handed pair from around the wicket. The return of spin also means the return of Matthew Wade inches from the stump microphone and his booming calls of “Nice Garry!” from every delivery, regardless of how nice it actually was. Matthew Wade, the wicketkeeper the post-truth era deserves.

64th over: South Africa 181-4 (Cook 72, Bavuma 17)

Bavuma takes a fancy to Starc all of a sudden, square driving uppishly for four, and then playing and missing an expansive uppercut. He blocks the third delivery but then attempts a full blooded hook at a short one that he top edges onto his helmet and over the slips. The fifth is another mistimed pulled boundary over the cordon! What an odd over, but great entertainment.

Updated

63rd over: South Africa 169-4 (Cook 72, Bavuma 5)

Bird continues to toil but despite maintaining a decent line and length he doesn’t look as though he’s going to force a mistake through his own brilliance. He’s relying on the ball misbehaving or a false stroke.

Highlight of the over, umpire Kettleborough, the all-seeing eye, calling the tightest of no-balls. He is the best in the business.

Seven overs remaining tonight.

62nd over: South Africa 168-4 (Cook 72, Bavuma 5)

Cook squirts another couple of runs at the less graceful end of the Gower-Martin scale of cricketing attractiveness. He really doesn’t look a match for the rapid, muscular Starc but it’s terrific fun that he’s hanging on in there. Bavuma matches Cook’s two with a much more appealing shot, leaning into a cover drive with the form of a man with a tight core.

61st over: South Africa 163-4 (Cook 69, Bavuma 3)

The field has come in much closer and tighter but somehow Cook pierces it with a waft just to the left of gully. 175 balls Cook’s been at the crease now, and he hasn’t looked ‘in’ for any of them.

South Africa lead by 39.

60th over: South Africa 156-4 (Cook 64, Bavuma 1)

Starc just gave Bavuma a stare that made him look the spitting image of Basil Fawlty. With that charity moustache Starc’s tall angular frame is reminiscent of John Cleese, and he looked at the batsman like Fawlty did at Manuel, ‘tache bristling, murmuring something unrepeatable. Maiden over.

https://twitter.com/FulhamJon/status/802061854352801792

59th over: South Africa 155-4 (Cook 64, Bavuma 0)

Bird has adjusted to a Hazlewood line and length and it has Cook fencing airily, but a return to a straighter line allows the strike to be rotated. The pressure has been relentless from all four Australian bowlers since Dinner, ramming home their significant first-innings advantage.

58th over: South Africa 154-4 (Cook 64, Bavuma 0)

With a lead of just 30, you fancy South Africa’s chances of salvaging anything from this Test disappeared off the Adelaide Oval turf with their skipper. Du Plessis a little late to his shot courtesy of Starc’s extra pace, and it was a ripping catch from the debutant.

Predictably, Starc now looks unplayable to the new batsman with Bavuma fending without guile at a couple that suddenly look to be dancing off the increasingly dewy surface.

WICKET! du Plessis c Handscomb b Starc 12 (South Africa 154-4)

Huge moment in the match as du Plessis goes cheaply. He drives at a wide Starc half-volley but he can only thick edge it to a diving Handscomb in the gully.

Updated

57th over: South Africa 154-3 (Cook 64, du Plessis 12)

Bird targeting the stumps of Cook, drawing the familiar refrain around the oval of “lucky he hit that,” my personal favourite waste of the English language in a game where the bloke in question is charged with doing just that.

56th over: South Africa 152-3 (Cook 62, du Plessis 12)

Starc returns to the attack to see if his extra pace can unsettle a pair of compact right-handers who aren’t looking to unfurl their full range of shots. A waiting game this for South Africa who know they can’t afford to lose any more wickets under the floodlights.

Du Plessis has his game face on and he’s able to ignore five deliveries but still capitalise on the sixth and dispatch an effortless boundary.

55th over: South Africa 148-3 (Cook 62, du Plessis 8)

The players return after drinks with the floodlights now in full effect and the sunset a preposterously beautiful indigo. A whole heap of superlatives are showered on this venue, and they’re all justified.

Back to the cricket and Cook milks a leg-side four off Bird to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The lead creeps up to 24.

54th over: South Africa 144-3 (Cook 58, du Plessis 8)

The expectation that Lyon would just switch ends hasn’t materialised, meaning his excellent spell is over. Hazlewood continues his impeccable line and length, backed up by some irritating antics in the cordon, with skipper Smith throwing down the stumps with the batsman so deep in his crease he almost hits his own wicket. The Wade effect?

The Adelaide Oval is pretty.
The Adelaide Oval is pretty. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Updated

53rd over: South Africa 141-3 (Cook 55, du Plessis 8)

Jackson Bird comes on for the first time since Dinner, from the Cathedral End. He’s on the money, full and straight, and du Plessis is happy to present a straight bat and bide his time for four deliveries before attacking the final two, the latter of which canters to the extra cover boundary.

52nd over: South Africa 137-3 (Cook 55, du Plessis 4)

South Africa have slowed to a crawl after a positive start to this session, the last 10 overs going for just 15 runs. Hazlewood and Lyon have done a terrific job.

18 more overs to go tonight.

51st over: South Africa 135-3 (Cook 53, du Plessis 3)

Lyon’s starting to find that drift from around the wicket that makes it curve away from the two right-handers before dropping, bouncing and turning in. Eight overs one for 16 this spell.

50th over: South Africa 134-3 (Cook 53, du Plessis 3)

Australia are trying to fire up out there, Smith and Wade from behind the stumps are full of chirrup, Hazlewood with the ball is aiming for du Plessis’ rig and then offering his best death stare (which isn’t very scary). Faf, averaging 98 in Australia, smirks like the captain of a series-winning team might.

Updated

49th over: South Africa 134-2 (Cook 53, du Plessis 3)

The South African skipper walks out to the crease to a chorus of boos. His team needs him, with a lead of just 10, and a testing spell under lights to survive.

Updated

WICKET! Duminy b Lyon 26 (South Africa 131-3)

The pressure finally tells, and Lyon’s deserved that. Duminy plays for spin but there is none and he plays across the line, failing to do enough to stop his bails from being dislodged.

Duminy trudges off as Australia congratulate wicket-taker Lyon
Duminy trudges off as Australia congratulate wicket-taker Lyon. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Updated

48th over: South Africa 127-2 (Cook 53, Duminy 22)

You feel like the Australians are slowly constricting this partnership, starving it of life. Cook cannot get Hazlewood away, and looks a walking wicket to the one that nips back off the seam. But then again, he has for most of his 130+ ball stay and he continues to occupy the crease.

A pushed two into the covers from Cook puts South Africa in front, with 22 overs of nighttime batting to come.

47th over: South Africa 125-2 (Cook 51, Duminy 22)

Matthew Wade full of throaty cries of “Nice Garry!” as Lyon drops six deliveries in the right area that Duminy handles adroitly.

For anyone unaware, Garry is in reference to the Australian rules footballer, Garry Lyon. Nicknames, eh?

46th over: South Africa 125-2 (Cook 51, Duminy 22)

Hazlewood continues his probing of Cook’s technique, maintaining his outside-off line with the odd one darting in, forcing that deliberate exhalation of breath from the cordon that on slow-mo replays makes them look like dogs with their heads out of a moving car window.

In answer to my earlier question (40th over) - I give you, Stephen Moore.

Moore moore moore, how do you like it?

45th over: South Africa 125-2 (Cook 51, Duminy 22)

Lyon’s good spell almost reaps its reward with Duminy not reaching the pitch of the ball on the drive, almost offering a return chance but it bounces fractionally in front of the bowler.

Kevin Pietersen reveals he used to be Hansie Cronje in backyard cricket. Unpack that one pop-psychologists.

44th over: South Africa 123-2 (Cook 51, Duminy 20)

Josh Hazlewood into the attack and he begins ploughing that furrow around an imaginary fifth stump, making Cook hop about the crease like a murophobic.

I think a lot of people would agree with this sentiment. No doubt the result of the change of senior producer in the winter with Brad McNamara moving on. Which, like all Australian cricketing riddles, brings us back to Six and Out.

43rd over: South Africa 123-2 (Cook 51, Duminy 20)

Lyon is starting to look dangerous, getting plenty of bounce from this surface. There’s a bold shout for LBW but umpire Kettleborough spotted a tiny inside-edge. You just wouldn’t consider DRS with the Yorkshireman officiating, he’s never wrong.

42nd over: South Africa 118-2 (Cook 50, Duminy 16)

Starc against Duminy is a good battle. The bowler has the upper hand early in the over, especially with a testing bouncer in the twilight. But the batsman retaliates, slashing a cut for four to bring the deficit to just two runs.

This Test match is beautifully poised.

41st over: South Africa 118-2 (Cook 50, Duminy 16)

Lyon gets one to turn and bounce on Cook that raises questions about LBW and a short-leg catch. The five blokes very close to the action ooh and aah, but Warnie, a hundred metres or so away is adamant there was a case for DRS; there wasn’t.

Cook brings up his 50 later in the over, the third time he’s passed that mark in Test cricket, in his sixth match.

40th over: South Africa 116-2 (Cook 49, Duminy 15)

Duminy is one of those batsmen that makes you think he’s going to score big whenever he’s at the crease. He caresses a cover drive from a decent Starc delivery that was all timing. It seems cruel a player of such talent has a Test average of 33.

And that’s why. A shorter delivery generates a reflex pull that is horribly mistimed and lobbed just wide of mid-on. Very very lucky. Starc follows up with one touching 150kph. Lovely Test cricket.

Have any cricketers ever played the saxophone?

39th over: South Africa 110-2 (Cook 49, Duminy 9)

Lyon continuing with his work and he’s finding a decent line and length without threatening Duminy.

Back to the funky conundrum, how about the boys from Six and Out? Brett Lee played bass if I remember correctly, the funkiest of all instruments.

38th over: South Africa 107-2 (Cook 49, Duminy 6)

Starc working through the gears, pushing Cook onto his back foot. The ball, now in its 38th over isn’t doing a great deal in the air or off the pitch though, despite Starc bending his back. Another maiden.

Question - who is cricket’s funkiest player?

Any advance on this bloke?
Any advance on this bloke? Photograph: Will Burgess/REUTERS

37th over: South Africa 107-2 (Cook 49, Duminy 6)

Nathan Lyon replaces Warner in the attack, and he begins with a rank full toss down the leg-side; eurgh. In a four man unit, Australia simply cannot afford their only spinner to bowl filth. Luckily for Steve Smith the spinning quarter of his attack finds his groove and escapes with a maiden.

36th over: South Africa 107-2 (Cook 49, Duminy 6)

A particularly persistent streaker delays Mitchell Starc’s return to the attack. It looked like the Adelaide Oval security had lassoed a feral pig. Is that brief notoriety really worth the $5k fine?

Starc’s over is full and straight but there’s not much doing as the shadows lengthen and the floodlights take effect.

35th over: South Africa 105-2 (Cook 48, Duminy 5)

FUNKY CAPTAINCY KLAXON! In the funky stakes, this is Bootsy Collins, George Clinton and James Brown reforming in a heavenly supergroup. David Warner is opening the bowling after Dinner. Yes, that David Warner, the guy with the tear in his bowling shoulder who’s bowled just 56 overs in his Test career.

It doesn’t work. Five to Cook from the over.

Tear the roof off your shoulder tendon.

A quick recap of the match situation:

South Africa are 100-2 in their second innings, trailing Australia by 24 runs.

36 overs are due to be bowled in the final session, which is likely to require the extra half hour available to tardy captains. (Forget about the fuss for ball tampering, slow over rates are what armchair fans should get tweeting angrily about).

Stephen Cook is unbeaten on 43 and just about looks a Test opener. JP Duminy is on five and yet to get in. The four Australian bowlers have all bowled between six and ten overs each.

It might be dinner time, but Guer Rila is hungry, hungry for knowledge. He emails in a question, that, frankly, requires a familiarity with cricket statistics that I do not have. If you can help him out, feel free to email or tweet me at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com or @JPHowcroft.

“Hi Jonathan, SA would seem to need at least the same score in this third innings as they got in the first. Any idea of the statistics in this regard? How often do teams batting first manage to at least equal their first innings’ score in the third innings? What are third innings’ scores relative to first innings’ scores?”

If the Dinner break is too long to satisfy your yearning for over-by-over descriptions of live cricket, England are batting on the first day of the third Test against India in Mohali. You can follow that here:

Good evening ladies and gentleman. I trust you’re suitably fed and watered and ready for the final session of this third day of play, one that promises to decisively shape the next day or so.

If that sounds like a glib cliche, just think of the possibilities. South Africa bat through unscathed and they take a 70 or so run lead into day four against a tiring four-man attack. Alternatively, should Australia bag two or more wickets, it’s hard to see anything other than a consolation victory on Sunday.

Dinner - South Africa 100 for 2

A nice even number for South Africa, who’ve fought hard today with the bat. They’ve all but knocked off the deficit, and will then need to push in front. The question is how possible that might be. Batting looked pretty good at times this afternoon, but it has certainly seemed to get more difficult as the night has worn on, based on what we’ve seen over the first two days of play. One difference might be that the Australians will be using a ball that’s 34 overs old, so it may not have the swing and seam of the newer projectile, but the condition of the pink ball has stayed pretty good throughout each innings of this match, as it did last year.

Still plenty of pressure on South Africa, who could easily be rolled for a lead of around 100 if they don’t concentrate and persist. Hazlewood and Starc bowling dangerously, Lyon not as yet. Plenty of stories, Jonathan Howcroft will take you through them in the final session. Geoff Lemon signing off.

Josh Hazlewood of Australia stands on the boundary during day three of the Third Test match between Australia and South Africa at Adelaide Oval.
Josh Hazlewood of Australia stands on the boundary during day three of the Third Test match between Australia and South Africa at Adelaide Oval. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Updated

34th over: South Africa 100-2 (Cook 43, Duminy 5)

Lyon on for an exploratory over before the dinner break, to see if he can disrupt the batsmen’s footwork. Duminy faces him out though, no interest in scoring, just blocks away, and makes it safely through.

33rd over: South Africa 100-2 (Cook 43, Duminy 5)

No luck for Bird in that over. First a good lbw shout is turned down, beating Cook comprehsnsively but probably missing leg stump. Then a big drive is edged just wide of second slip. There is no third, Smith maybe gets a fingertip on it on the full dive, but it goes for four. Added to two runs from an earlier pull shot, that raises the South African hundred and cuts the deficit to 24. Kyle Abbot said last night they wanted to get 200 in front.

32nd over: South Africa 94-2 (Cook 37, Duminy 5)

Like he’s playing a game of Statues, Stephen Cook has finally come to life. Clips Hazlewood through square for four, then drives him for two, and knocks a final run through cover. It’s been a fine hand from Cook.

31st over: South Africa 87-2 (Cook 30, Duminy 5)

Bird has transferred his off-stump line to the left-hander without issue, and sits there for the entire over. It has an effect on Duminy, who flashes at the last ball but can’t make contact. The slips cordon was in anguish, they were so close to the third wicket.

Runs for Test discards Joe Burns and Peter Nevill in the Sheffield Shield today, as stumps are drawn on Australia’s east coast.

30th over: South Africa 87-2 (Cook 30, Duminy 5)

Hazlewood still bringing the heat, bowling around 140 kilometres an hour. Of course it’s not as late in the day as it feels, out here. The long shadows and crepuscular sunlight give the impression that stumps should be close, but of course we’re just getting close to the meal break before another long session. Cook has faced 87 balls by the end of the over, happy to see off Hazlewood’s fifth maiden from nine overs.

Got him, yes. Hazlewood maintains his hold over Amla
Got him, yes. Hazlewood maintains his hold over Amla. Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

29th over: South Africa 87-2 (Cook 30, Duminy 5)

Excellent over from Bird, who is finding his range. Nagging around the off stump, five dot balls there, and there’s alarm when Duminy lashes one through cover and is nearly caught by Warner in a short catching position there on the off-side. Warner dived away but couldn’t get his delightful stubby little arms to it. Like a possum reaching for an apple, that.

28th over: South Africa 83-2 (Cook 30, Duminy 1)

Four balls outside off from Hazlewood, four good leaves from Duminy. Made that hundred at Perth but has an underwhelming record at Test level considering his ability. The fifth ball hits him on the body, the sixth is squirted for a single.

27th over: South Africa 82-2 (Cook 30, Duminy 0)

Cook is preparing to dig in again. Faces out a maiden from Bird as they think about the dinner break in 20 or so minutes.

WICKET! Amla c Wade b Hazlewood 45

26th over: South Africa 82-2 (Cook 30)

Beautiful bowling again from Hazlewood! Last ball of the over, back of a length, it hit the pitch hard and seamed away. Amla was again pushing hard well in front of his body. The ball took a tiny nick, clipped his back hip and went to Wade, who took the straightforward chance. Amla obviously didn’t know that he hit it, because he immediately reviewed the decision. but Hot Spot showed a small but clear mark. Relief for Australia, but that missed chance earlier has cost them 30-odd runs that could be important later in this fairly low-scoring game. South Africa still 42 behind.

Updated

25th over: South Africa 82-1 (Cook 30, Amla 45)

That’s enough Lyon for now, says Smith, and Jackson Bird returns. Similar to his early spell: five tight balls on the off, one loose ball on the pads that is put away by Cook for two runs.

Updated

24th over: South Africa 80-1 (Cook 28, Amla 45)

Starc isn’t done yet. Oversteps on his first ball searching for extra pace, and Cook gets off strike, but follows up with a fierce short ball that Amla gets underneath on the backward sway. Amla leaves, waits. He’s standing outside his leg stump and then shuffling across slightly into line as the bowler delivers. Starc gives him a short length, barely any width but Amla cuts perfectly for four. Starc follows up with one straight at the glvoes and the batsman yanks his hand away in startled fashion. Good battle.

The deficit is down to 44.

“I have to take issue with your assumption about Fidel Castro’s style on the field,” protests Samuel Fiffian. “A story: When Castro was first introduced to Che Guevara he was asked, ‘what are you doing in Mexico?’ Castro’s answer lasted around four hours, without a break. Based on that performance, he’s clearly a ponderous, stonewalling opening batsman that would make Chris Tavare and Geoff Boycott look like lightning fast over-achievers.”

Updated

23rd over: South Africa 74-1 (Cook 27, Amla 41)

Here we are, the tempo has changed. The pendulum swung. Lyon sends down a couple of good balls, but then gets too full. Amla drives him through cover for four, then saunters down the track and lifts him straight down the ground for a marginal six, just clearing the rope at the fig-tree end of the stadium. Lyon’s struggles continue.

Hashim Amla, a study in angles, and concentration
Hashim Amla, a study in angles, and concentration. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

Updated

22nd over: South Africa 64-1 (Cook 27, Amla 31)

Amla drives Starc for three runs, then Cook soaks him up. Batting looking easier and easier out there.

“New York minute,” emails the clearly small correspondent Dallas Nash, then clarifies, “As in very tiny! Your reader in NY thinks he has it bad. I’m in Botswana, about 10 miles from the South African border and I can’t watch my team live cos Cricket Oz has blocked coverage outside of South Africa on our only satellite sports server. Thanks, Bruce. So now I’m part of the Guardian family and very grateful for it too.” As we are to have your diminutive company.


21st over: South Africa 61-1 (Cook 27, Amla 28)

Lyon carries on, mixing up his flight and his flat ones, Amla trying a hard sweep that he misses utterly but jabs away with his forearm for three ley byes. A couple of singles also come.

20th over: South Africa 56-1 (Cook 26, Amla 27)

The pressure is off. Amla has had his life, Starc has lost his accuracy, and Amla lashes a full ball on the drive and a short ball on the cut. Eight runs, then a single.

Plenty of people not happy with Wade’s non-attempt to take that catch, though I think that if Renshaw had moved to his left in a normal slip-catcher’s fashion he would have got there in time to cover that ball.


19th over: South Africa 47-1 (Cook 26, Amla 18)

Interesting times here. Stephen Cook has obviously decided to go after Nathan Lyon. He and Amla trade singles, then Cook comes down the pitch to drive through midwicket for four. He goes again a couple of balls later, this time not getting to the pitch of it, and trying to whipe a ball that wasn’t full enough. Instead it shoots high in the air, but comes down safely over backwards square leg for a couple of runs.

“Gutted to hear about Castro, though hearing in a cricket context raises the question, how would he play?” ponders Rowan Sweeney. “I’m thinking a pugnacious batsman, compact in defence and brutally effective strokeplay - Alan Border meets Phil Jaques.”

I’m thinking more an opening bowler, beard streaming in the breeze as he tried to bowl a jackboot-crusher.

18th over: South Africa 39-1 (Cook 19, Amla 17)

Dropped! The drinks break nearly does it again, but an inexperienced combination of wicketkeeper and first slip cocks it up. Starc bowling, good heat, Amla pushed hard at the ball, regulation edge. Renshaw is a little wide at first slip, and it went to his left-hand side. Renshaw extended the arm fully, was late to move, only got one hand on it. But the width of the ball indicates that the keeper should really have gone for it. Wade didn’t even twitch for it.

Amla gets two, then drives through mid-on for two more.

17th over: South Africa 35-1 (Cook 19, Amla 13)

Amla still grinding away, he sees off Lyon’s over with a single from the fifth ball and gets through to the drinks break. And breathe.

16th over: South Africa 34-1 (Cook 19, Amla 12)

Amla is getting a little twitchy now. Needs to channel his famous reserves of patience and calm. Throws the bat at Bird, edges over slips for four.

Brian Withington is in despair. “Given up in despair at England coverage – poor wickets lost on pitch and to compound matters Vish didn’t even nibble at my (very early and respectful) tweet about Fidel’s dismissal in the nervous 90’s. Oh and it’s lunch. I’m all yours for the next half hour at least...”

He’s a cruel taskmaster, Vish, who rules his page with an iron hand.

Updated

15th over: South Africa 28-1 (Cook 19, Amla 7)

Nathan Lyon has copped some criticism recently, but it’s more a case of a bad patch than a bad bowler. In fact, Australians seem to keep forgetting how impressive his record is. Currently he’s on 214 Test wickets. Clarrie Grimmet, the famed 30s leggie, is on 216. Which means that three more wickets, and the only spinners ahead of Lyon on the tally will be named Benaud and Warne.

He does need to overcome his current struggles though. A couple of balls tangle Cook, but the batsmen trade singles, then Cook gets most of a top edged sweep that goes for four.

Nathan Lyon looks on as Peter Handscomb attempts to gather in the pink ball
Nathan Lyon looks on as Peter Handscomb attempts to gather in the pink ball. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Updated

14th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)

A fairly close midwicket, a square leg and a mid-on are in position, allowing Bird to attack the stumps once in a while. He takes advantage of that, and a good stop at that midwicket spot stops any runs. Amla is otherwise tied down by the off-stump line. The Australian seamers are well disciplined today, but Nathan Lyon is warming up.

13th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)

Hazlewood back to maiden form. The first four balls draw defensive strokes and leaves. The last two Cook drives to the field.

Much was made after Hobart of Darren Lehmann saying that only four players were safe, and not including Usman Khawaja in that. That motivated Khawaja to score his hundred, apparently. Except this morning when the sleepy-voiced batsman said he hadn’t heard anything about it.

12th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)

Bird plugging away on that off stump, but again lets one slip too straight and Cook is able to glance a single. He’s not racking up the runs, but he’s been able to just keep the engine ticking over.

Well, consider me scolded.

11th over: South Africa 21-1 (Cook 13, Amla 6)

Hashim Amla has been out to Josh Hazlewood in all four innings so far this series. So the batsman will be relieved when he’s brought onto strike, faces one ball with a defensive shot, then drives beautifully through mid-off for four.

10th over: South Africa 16-1 (Cook 12, Amla 2)

Bird continues to land them on the spot. His last outing, in Christchurch, he wasn’t great in the first innings and came good with five wickets in the second. Some signs of the same formula here, he’s got better as the match has worn on. Just a disciplined over here, hanging around the off stump for five balls, Cook defending until he gets one straighter and glances a single. Stephen Cook toughing it out again, as in the first innings.

Hashim Amla watchful as a short ball flies overhead
Hashim Amla watchful as a short ball flies overhead. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Updated

9th over: South Africa 15-1 (Cook 11, Amla 2)

Hazlewood, the maiden machine. That sounds like a Schopenhauer chapter. He doesn’t quite get the maiden this time, conceding a single at the last, as Cook squirts one away. But the Hoff has given up two runs from four overs.

Updated

8th over: South Africa 14-1 (Cook 10, Amla 2)

Jackson Bird on early, after his triumph with the bat – outscored Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade combined earlier in the day. Bowls better at the outset than he did in Innings 1. There’s a huge appeal for one that hit outside the line, so not out for Cook, who then pushes three runs through point.

Updated

7th over: South Africa 11-1 (Cook 7, Amla 2)

Bit of a waste from Starc to Amla, who only had to play once during that over. The rest were wider, or short enough for Amla to sway away.

6th over: South Africa 11-1 (Cook 7, Amla 2)

Hazlewood coming hard at Amla, hits his bat and cracks it near the splice. The South African has to replace it. Amla eventually gets off strike with a single, the only run from from Hazlewood’s three overs so far.

“These day/night tests are great, but did they ever consider us Aussies watching from New York?” protests Ben Hartley by email. “It’s late, I’m still tired from too much turkey and now Sling is showing me NZ vs Pakistan instead of my match. We have Trump and now this! It’s too much to bear.”



5th over: South Africa 10-1 (Cook 7, Amla 1)

Oh, yes. Cricket. Starc gives Cook a full working over, testing him outside off, swinging into his toes, bouncing at his ribs, before slipping one too straight from the last ball and being whipped for four.

Stephen Cook looks on as Smith takes the wicket of Elgar
Stephen Cook looks on as Smith takes the wicket of Elgar. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Updated

4th over: South Africa 6-1 (Cook 3, Amla 1)

A maiden to Hashim Amla from Hazlewood, who pins him down. Amla has struggled a bit this series, 0 and 1 in Perth, then 47 in Hobart. If he makes less than 27 today, his career average will slip under 50.

I’m only posting about Cuban leaders because my Twitter feed currently has nothing about the cricket in it. Hope it’s not a hoax. No, maybe that’s mean. I hope it is a hoax?

WICKET! Fidel Castro 90, c Reaper b Old Age

Brilliant effort to get close to a ton by the Cuban veteran, but he falls short after tiring towards the end. Stubborn innings by a divisive player, and the applause from some sections of the crowd is less grudging than others as he departs.

Your Guardian news update is here.

Updated

3rd over: South Africa 6-1 (Cook 3, Amla 1)

How many times has Mitchell Starc taken a wicket in his first over? He did it in about four or five of the seven limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka mid-year, but doing it in Tests is more difficult without players swatting across the line.

Big shout for lbw in his second, striking Cook with a swinging ball, but Smith opts not to review. Probably going down leg. Two leg byes result, as well as Cook scoring a couple on the drive.

Updated

2nd over: South Africa 1-1 (Cook 1, Amla 0)

A maiden follows, as Hazlewood tightens up the line. It looks pretty good for batting out there today, South Africa just have to get through the new ball.

1st over: South Africa 1-1 (Cook 1, Amla 0)

Perfect start for the Aussies, with South Africa 123 behind.

WICKET! Elgar c Smith b Starc 0

And we’re away! First over, Mitch Starc swings in a beauty from over the wicket to the left-hander, it’s full and Elgar comes down the wrong line, almost across the ball and gets a thick edge low to the ground. Smith flings himself rightwards like a desperate centrist politician chasing nationalist votes, and holds on by a margin of 2%.

French, Romance, Countrymensch. Loan me your eagles. Let them soar free. Geoff Lemon with you – hit me up on email at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or slide into my DMs on Twitter via @GeoffLemonSport. I’m also on Tinder if you’re in Adelaide and want to swipe your way to me past Warnie. I may not post those messages on the Guardian.

Updated

WICKET (AND TEA)! Bird c du Plessis b Rabada 6 (Australia all out 383)

Bird cutting close to his body, but he edges straight to du Plessis at second slip. It flew fast to his stomach, but he completed the catch to give Rabada a third wicket. Australia are all out, earning a 124 run first-innings lead.

And with 28 minutes remaining to the scheduled tea break, they’ll take it early before South Africa roll out for their second hit. Just about the perfect session for Australia, the last four wickets adding exactly 100 runs last night and this afternoon.

Khawaja’s mighty hand came to an end within 40 minutes of the resumption of play this morning, finishing with 145. Starc took the lead at this point, playing his shots after carefully building a foundation last night, a half-century appropriate reward. The remaining bowlers all chipped in for time at the crease as much as runs on the board.

So, that leaves South Africa 70 overs to bat across two long sessions on day three. They’ve got a decent hole to dig themselves out now, but we’ve learned in this match and last year in this corresponding fixture that the time after tea is the best time to bat. For Australia’s part, they won’t want to be chasing many, but have the fast bowling to cause a lot of problems in a hurry. Tasty times ahead.

And that’s me done. Geoff Lemon, who is sitting literally in the seat next to me, will be taking the baton for the middle session. Do keep him company as you have me. See you tomorrow.

Updated

121st over: Australia 383-9 (Hazlewood 11, Bird 6) A single to each, Bird’s coming from an inside edge that nearly went to hand at short leg, frustrating the Proteas.

120th over: Australia 381-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 5) Bird positive solid against Rabada there. It’s a maiden, but he had to play all but one delivery and did so confidently and on the front foot. The penultimate ball whacked him on the arm and probably stung a bit, but he can be proud of his application. Never hurts for a No11 to have accounted for themselves well with the bat just before going back out for a long bowl.

Updated

119th over: Australia 381-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 5) Bird content in defence against Shamsi, then driving to mid-on with a stroke that has a bit of technique to it. I thought this bloke couldn’t bat? A big wrong-un to the left-handed Hazlewood is not picked, nearly resulting in a catch to midwicket, but he survives to see another over.

118th over: Australia 380-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 4) Big Josh Hazlewood’s turn to get that board ticking over with cagey little slips push, annoying Rabada with an edge through the cordon that trickles away to the rope. A couple more are added when the quick strays onto his pads. All of a sudden that lead is 121.

Updated

117th over: Australia 373-9 (Hazlewood 4, Bird 3) A lot of chat about Jack Bird’s batting a few weeks ago when Rod Marsh said he wasn’t picked for the First Test because his batting wasn’t up to scratch. Ahhh, what times they were. Having surely worked on his batting game since that unorthodox setback, he edges beyond Amla at slip to pick up three runs at the end of the Shamsi over. After toiling so long for his first Test wicket, that’s his 27th over, he nearly had two in the space of four balls.

Updated

WICKET! Lyon c Amla b Shamsi 13 (Australia 370-9)

Compulsive sweeper Lyon falls to his favourite shot! To the first two balls of the over he picked up runs with it into the legside, but the third effort ended up straight in the air off a top edge. Shamsi has his first Test wicket! All told, not a bad cameo from the Australian offie.

Updated

116th over: Australia 366-7 (Hazlewood 4, Lyon 9) Nathan Lyon’s innings in last year’s Day/Night Test was highly controversial, given not out by the third umpire after SMASHING it. But it was also vital, the last wicket stand he shared ultimately getting Australia a first-innings lead just big enough to win the game 24 hours later. Can he do the same here? Early signs a good, a wonderful clip through midwicket away to the boundary, putting Australia’s lead beyond 100. Lyon isn’t done yet, two through cover then three over point. Nine runs and a wicket from it. Eventful!

WICKET! Starc c&b Rabada 53. (Australia 357-8)

After saying all of that, the first ball after their glass of cordial and bag of raspberry frogs (or sugary designate), the South Africans have got rid of Starc! Misreading the length, he only succeeded in pushing to Rabada in his follow through, who did the rest with ease. His second wicket.

115th over: Australia 357-7 (Starc 53, Hazlewood 4) There’s the highlight of Starc’s innings, launching Shamsi back over his head with peak style to bring up his fifty! Really can’t speak highly enough of this hand, coming in as Australia lost 3-for-10 last night, the South African bowlers well on top. But he withstood the temptation to swing the bat last night, survived, and has taken full advantage this morning. It’s such a big part of these day/night Tests, doing the hard yards under lights to earn the right for a much bigger go when the sun is out. Very mature.

This over also marks the end of a top hour for the hosts, their lead swelling to 98. Sure, they lost Khawaja along the way. But they’re now really driving this Test Match.

Mitchell Starc receives a pat on the back from Josh Hazlewood
Mitchell Starc receives a pat on the back from Josh Hazlewood for his half century. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Updated

114th over: Australia 352-7 (Starc 48, Hazlewood 4) Tidy batting from Starc, getting just enough on Rabada to get himself four to fine leg. He’s in very good nick here. He’s beaten the next ball by one that talks, and it is coming down at a very decent clip, but both the Australians are doing this well. One over to drinks. Oh, and the Australian 350 is up as well.

113rd over: Australia 347-7 (Starc 43, Hazlewood 4) And Shamsi is chucked the ball to replace Philander, making it a double change. Still wicketless on debut, but he’s been bowling well in the game. Runs with the bat, chirping away at the Australians in the field, bowling his share of hard-spun unplayables. Bold to say this right at the moment, but I reckon they might have found a good’un there. Sure enough after typing all that his first ball is launched over long-on by Starc, who had enough time to swing the arms. He beat Hazlewood later with one of those aforementioned unplayables. Anyway, he’s still got none-fa so I should probably stop talking him up already.

Updated

112th over: Australia 340-7 (Starc 37, Hazlewood 3) Rabada into the attack for the first time today. Good call. He replaces Abbott from the Southern End, running away from us. He’s a solid yard quicker than his teammates, maintaining a straight line to Hazlewood, who is relatively comfortable in defence. He’s fallen away a bit with the bat of late, but don’t forget that Hazlewood has played some very impressive innings for Australia. Especially the 80-odd balls he faced at No11 at Dominica last year, helping Adam Voges to his ton on debut. The point: don’t get the pads on quite yet, South Africa.

Pleasure overload with all the cricket on, as pointed out here by Ethan.

Updated

111st over: Australia 338-7 (Starc 37, Hazlewood 1) Nothing quite so painful for a fast bowler than being hammered by another fast bowler. Philander experienced that pain here, blasted into the crowd by Starc with a beautifully timed pull/hook number, depending on your definition.

Is Starc the best since Pistol for Australian fast bowlers who bat? Not a bad shout, but Mitch Johnson probably has a claim with a Test ton and all. What do you reckon?

110th over: Australia 330-7 (Starc 30, Hazlewood 0) Starc misses an Abbott short ball and it scones him on the helmet. A fair bit of time taken out of the game here as the usual process is gone through, his helmet replaced. He’s fine to continue the innings. After the delay Starc is immediately beaten outside the off-stump feeling for a drive. Still has some work to do with the bat before Australia can be satisfied.

109th over: Australia 327-7 (Starc 29, Hazlewood 0) 466 minutes Khawaja batted for, coming in unexpectedly at the top of the lists a couple of days ago, now leaving with Australia 68 ahead. Philander was the man with the wicket maiden. Against the run of play, so to speak. But he has the chance now to run through the tail. Make no mistake, it’s still very much game on.

WICKET! Khawaja lbw Philander 145 (Australia 327-7)

At last! It had to be a quality delivery to get a bloke who has faced 307 balls, and it was, jagging off the seam and trapping him on the crease. Khawaja reviewed, because he’s worth it. But he was already 3/4 the way off the ground as DRS did its thing, knowing full well he was out. But what a contribution. Said it before and will again: the best he’s played for Australia, and probably the best anyone’s played for Australia since Michael Clarke at Cape Town in February 2014.

Vernon Philander celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja
Vernon Philander celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Updated

108th over: Australia 327-6 (Khawaja 145, Starc 29) From Lara to Laxman in the space of an over, or something like that. Starc’s wrists so fine, four to point. A couple more when a big old slog goes over long-off. That’s more like it! Six from the over. Easy peasy.

107th over: Australia 321-6 (Khawaja 145, Starc 23) Starc doing his best Brian Lara, high backlift making good contact, the ball racing away to the long-off boundary. Didn’t get all of it, so he only gets three, but it sure looked good. Philader isn’t making a dint yet in this spell. He falls onto Khawaja’s pads with the last ball of the set, and he’s naturally enough up to the task of tucking away two more behind square. More great batting, the lead now 62. Healthy.

106th over: Australia 316-6 (Khawaja 143, Starc 20) Khawaja straight back into the tempo that has made this innings such a gem. Completely at easy leaving Abbott and patting him back when on the money. Bowl to me, he’s saying. And when that’s the case he drives, through cover on this occasion. A couple added to the total. Superb batting. Just the start Australia needed, altogether free of drama.

105th over: Australia 314-6 (Khawaja 141, Starc 20) One of those annoying delays where the ball is put through the two rings to work out whether it is still in shape. The assessment is is it needs a change. Sure the tourists will be happy with that given the lack of movement they have got in the first couple of overs this afternoon. Starc obviously likes the look of it, trying to put it on the moon at the first time of asking. But he missed. His more conservative push through point nets two runs. Much better. A point I’m sure his partner Khawaja will reinforce when they have a chat at the end of the over.

104th over: Australia 311-6 (Khawaja 140, Starc 18) Starc steers Abbott behind point to start his day. Controlled shot. He’s happy to leave and defend him for the rest of the over. Good areas, as they say in the classics, but not a huge amount of early movement from Kyle.

103rd over: Australia 309-6 (Khawaja 140, Starc 16) This is so well set up. Australia, if they can just eek out another 40? Or a triple figure lead, even? They’re really not that far away. If the opposite is true and they lose their way early, South Africa will enter the second innings marginally behind but confident. Vern isn’t right away on the money, spraying one down the legside and dropping onto Khawaja’s pads, who opens his account with a brace to square leg.

Interesting interview with SACA boss Keith Bradshaw on ABC radio before play, where he backed in the day/night Test for next year’s Ashes. Reckons it’d be sold out for the first four days. Blimey. Bradshaw also spoke glowingly about the “out the back” culture here at Adelaide Oval. Today they are having their first fashions on the field competition. As a veteran of many days on the green, I can only hope they get that out the way nice and early. They party hard (and early).

Andrew WK for Adelaide Oval. The campaign begins here.

Updated

“How can you not love this Test Match?” Well put by Dirk Nannes on the radio, as the first ball is prepared to be bowled. Big Vern Philander has the ball in his hand, Usman Khawaja is up the business end. And... we’re... AWAY.

We have duelling OBOs!

I love it when this happens. My dear friend Vitushan Ehantarajah is over on the India v England tools, day one of their critical third Test at Mohali. My recommendation? Keep us both open. We’ll be talking to each other anyway. We’re cute like that.

Welcome to day three from Adelaide

And what a day it is. The sun is screaming across the Adelaide Oval, looking an utter treat. And better still, we have a Test Match set up for a wonderful third day, Australia earning a 48 run lead to date with four wickets in hand. Adam Collins with you here as the clock ticks over to 1:45pm local time, meaning we’re just a quarter hour away from it all kicking off.

Usman Khawaja will resume his magnificent hand – his best yet for Australia – on 138. He batted with extreme patience last night after three quick Australian wickets fell as it went from twilight to dark, steadying the situation with Mitchell Starc who restarts his innings on 16.

Plenty to talk about as the crowd pours in. There’s talk of a sell-out today, and rightly so – they love getting down to this place when the heat is on. Talk about it with me in the usual places as I guide you though the opening session, Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com for the proper, @collinsadam the dross. I enjoy both, so don’t be shy.

Updated

Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a wrap of day two’s action, in which Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb were the stars for the home side.

Updated

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