AUS v SA: Solid top order provides resistance for Australia

After a century from Quinon de Kock that helped South Africa take a lead of 241, Australia's top order batted steadily to erase 121 from the deficit for the loss of two wickets.

Published : Nov 14, 2016 07:54 IST , Hobart

David Warner batted purposefully for a knock of 45 in Australia's second innings before seamer Kyle Abbott dismissed him.
David Warner batted purposefully for a knock of 45 in Australia's second innings before seamer Kyle Abbott dismissed him.
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David Warner batted purposefully for a knock of 45 in Australia's second innings before seamer Kyle Abbott dismissed him.

Luck deserted Australia in its desperate bid to salvage the second Test with South Africa snaring the vital wicket of David Warner in unfortunate circumstances in Hobart on Monday.

> Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Warner, who was seeking redemption after his reckless dismissal in the opening over of the first innings, lost his wicket while at the forefront of Australia’s fightback. At stumps on the third day, the home side was hanging in at 121 for two, still 120 runs behind South Africa, which has been in control of the Test since routing Australia for 85 on Saturday.

Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 56, his ninth Test half-century, with skipper Steve Smith not out on 18.

Warner flung his head back in despair when a ball from Kyle Abbott hit his hip and ricocheted off an elbow onto his stumps when he was on 45. It gave the South Africans a huge fillip after Warner and Khawaja had recovered the innings with a 79-run stand after the loss of Joe Burns in the first over.

Quinton de Kock (104 off 143 balls):

 

Burns lasted just four balls before he was caught behind, tickling at one wide down the leg-side from Abbott. Lightning had struck twice for Australia with fellow opener Warner out to an expansive shot in the opening over in the first innings of the Test.

Khawaja played some lovely shots in his vigil, providing great support for his captain Smith, who top scored with an unbeaten 48 in the first innings shambles.

De Kock century

Australia faces a mighty struggle to prevent South Africa, already 1-0 up, from claiming its third successive series in Australia with only next week’s day-night third Test in Adelaide still to play.

South Africa earlier extended its first innings lead to 241 before it was all out for 326 with Quinton de Kock plundering a century and Josh Hazlewood finishing with six for 89. Hazlewood captured three of the last four wickets to fall after lunch for his second best haul after his six for 70 > against New Zealand in Adelaide last year to take his tally to 88 Test wickets.

Shortly after lunch, Tembo Bavuma was surprised by a rearing delivery to spoon an easy catch to Nathan Lyon at point and give Joe Mennie his first Test wicket for 74. Keshav Maharaj followed shortly after, bowled by Hazlewood for one, and Abbott lasted nine balls before he became the speedster’s fifth dismissal for three.

Vernon Philander was the last man out for 32 off 28 balls, caught behind off Hazlewood.

After Sunday’s second day was washed out, the Australians chased early wickets but de Kock and Bavuma batted South Africa into a position of strength with a century stand. The swashbuckling wicketkeeper was bowled by Hazlewood just before lunch for 104 off 143 balls with 17 boundaries.

His stand of 144 with Bavuma was the highest by a visiting team in Hobart for the sixth wicket. De Kock became only the fourth South African to register 50 or more in five consecutive Tests after he swept spinner Nathan Lyon for four over wide mid-on.

He has proven a thorn for Australia in this series following scores of 84 and 64 in the first Test victory in Perth.

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