Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers batted South Africa into a strong position, leaving South Africa at 238 for five in their second innings during Saturday's play in the third Test against South Africa when bad light ended play, an overall lead of 294. The series is tied at one match apiece. Opening batsman Markram made 84 and De Villiers batted with unusual caution to be 51 not out at the close.
Markram, out for nought in the first innings, could have completed a "pair" but he was dropped off the fourth ball of the second innings when he edged Mitchell Starc low to the left of Usman Khawaja at gully. He survived another much more difficult chance on 59 when Smith flung himself to his right at second slip and got his fingertips to a flying edge off Josh Hazlewood. Smith, who held a world record-equalling five catches in the first innings, had already added to his tally by catching first innings century-maker Dean Elgar off Pat Cummins for 14.
Markram, who made a century in the first Test in Durban, batted solidly despite his lapses and hit ten fours and two sixes in a 145-ball innings. He shared partnerships of 76 with Hashim Amla (31) and 47 with AB de Villiers, who was unbeaten on 18. Markram was out in the last over before tea when he chipped Mitchell Starc to mid-on where Cummins held a low catch. De Villiers opened his scoring with a slapped six off the back foot over cover off Cummins but it was the only scoring shot in the first 20 balls he faced as he made a cautious start to his innings.
De Villiers looked determined to bat until deep in the innings and had faced 103 balls by the close. South Africa bowled out Australia for 255 at the start of the day, a first innings lead of 56, with Australia adding ten runs before losing their last wicket. Australia's last batsman, Josh Hazlewood, hit two fours off Kagiso Rabada before he was caught by Amla at first slip off Rabada off the 17th ball of the day. In contrast to the first two days, the weather was cool and cloudy and bad light ended play about 40 minutes early.
Scoreboard
South Africa, first innings, 311
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Australia, first innings (overnight 245-9)
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C. Bancroft lbw b Philander 77
D. Warner b Rabada 30
U. Khawaja c Rabada b Morkel 5
S. Smith c Elgar b Morkel 5
S. Marsh c De Kock b Morkel 26
M. Marsh c De Kock b Philander 5
T. Paine not out 34
P. Cummins c De Villiers b Rabada 4
M. Starc c De Villiers b Rabada 2
N. Lyon c Elgar b Morkel 47
J. Hazlewood c Amla b Rabada 10
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Extras (b1, lb5, nb4) 10
Total (69.5 overs) 255
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Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Warner), 2-61 (Khawaja), 3-72 (Smith), 4-150 (S. Marsh), 5-150 (Bancroft), 6-156 (M. Marsh), 7-173 (Cummins), 8-175 (Starc), 9-241 (Lyon)
Bowling: Philander 15-5-26-2 (1nb), Rabada 20.5-1-91-4 (3nb), Morkel 21-7-87-4, Maharaj 12-3-35-0, Bavuma 1-0-10-0.
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South Africa, second innings
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A. Markram c Cummins b Starc 84
D. Elgar c Smith b Cummins 14
H. Amla c Bancroft b Cummins 31
A. de Villiers not out 51
F. du Plessis lbw b Lyon 20
T. Bavuma c sub (Handscomb) b Hazlewood 5
Q. de Kock not out 29
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Extras: (b4) 4
Total: (5 wkts, 72 overs) 238
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Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Elgar), 2-104 (Amla), 3-151 (Markram), 4-196 (Du Plessis), 5-201 (Bavuma)
Bowling: Starc 15-2-48-1, Hazlewood 17-4-46-1, Cummins 19-4-47-2, Lyon 16-1-69-1, Smith 1-0-6-0, M. Marsh 4-0-18-0
Match situation: South Africa lead by 294 runs with five wickets remaining in the second innings
Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Richard Illingworth, Nigel Llong (both ENG)
TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).
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