Elgar, Duminy tons stud South Africa dominance
Centuries from Dean Elgar and JP Duminy steered South Africa to a strong position on the third day of the opening Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday (November 5).
At stumps on the third day, the visiting side was 390 for 6 in its second innings, an overall lead of 388 with four wickets in hand although the injured Dale Steyn is not expected to bat. Vernon Philander was on 23 and a subdued Quinton de Kock was 16, the latter having been given a life on one when Adam Voges grassed a tough chance from the bowling of Mitchell Starc.
The day belonged to Duminy and Elgar, who came together when South Africa lost two second innings wickets late on the second day. The pair put on 250 for the third wicket as they kept Australia's attack at bay for most of the day. Both batsmen made their Test debuts at the WACA Ground and they each notched their fifth Test centuries during the second session.
Duminy eventually fell for 141 to end the partnership, chasing a wide ball from Peter Siddle (2 for 47) and getting a fine edge, being given out on a decision review after Aleem Dar, the umpire, had turned down Australia's appeal. The left-hander had faced 225 balls, hitting 20 fours and one six.
Elgar's 127 buried the memories of his Test debut in Perth, when he faced just 22 balls and was dismissed for a pair on debut in 2012. The opener faced 316 balls and batted for 471 minutes, eventually falling to a tired attempt to drive against Josh Hazlewood (2 for 97), slicing a catch to Starc in gully.
Duminy and Elgar were mostly untroubled as Australia's bowlers appeared to wilt in the heat, with Starc struggling with his control and looking little like the player who claimed four wickets on the opening day.
Starc, in his first Test since a nasty leg injury and coming off a limited preparation, bowled some wayward deliveries and grew increasingly frustrated as the day wore on. His woes were compounded when he misjudged a high ball at mid-on when Elgar was 81 and failed to get a hand to the difficult chance.
South Africa will be one bowler down in the Australian second innings, with Steyn expected to be out for at least six months due to a shoulder problem which is likely to require surgery. However, it will be encouraged by some inconsistent bounce on the third day as the pitch started to deteriorate.
Australia will have to produce its greatest-ever fourth innings run chase at the ground to win the match, but the home team will take heart from the 2008 Test between the two sides, when South Africa chased down 414 on the final day.
That South Africa could be in such a strong position was remarkable given that it appeared to be all but out of the match a day earlier. After winning the toss and being dismissed for 242, the side appeared certain to be facing a massive first-innings deficit when Australia cruised to 158 for none before lunch on day two, but the home side then collapsed to make just 244 as the match turned on its head.
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