Collapses All Round But Australia Stay In Control

Collapses All Round But Australia Stay In Control

Rob Quiney throws his bat after he was dismissed for a two-ball duck on the third day in Adelaide

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 550 (Clarke 230) & 111-5 v
South Africa 388 (du Plessis 78)
Second Test, Adelaide, day three
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two
Report by John Pennington

South Africa continued to fight hard on day three of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, but the day ended with the hosts 273 runs ahead.

Half-centuries for Francois du Plessis and Jacques Kallis helped the Proteas score 388 in their first innings before Australia closed on 111 for five in their second innings.

Australia quickly took control in the morning by taking five wickets for 17 runs to reduce Australia to 250 for seven having been 233 for two.

Jacques Rudolph (29), AB de Villiers (1), Dale Steyn (1), Rory Kleinveldt (0) and Graeme Smith (122) fell in the space of 10 overs.

However, du Plessis, on debut, and Kallis, batting well down the order due to a hamstring injury, then came together to add 93 for the eighth wicket/

Du Plessis struck 78 in 159 balls with 13 fours and a six and Kallis bravely made 58 in 93 with 10 fours and one six.

Kallis fell when he was caught by Matthew Wade off Michael Clarke but six from Morne Morkel and an unbeaten 10 from Imran Tahir ensured South Africa would at least avoid the follow-on.

Ben Hilfenhaus finished with figures of three for 49 while Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle took two wickets apiece.

Australian openers Ed Cowan and David Warner then set about extending the lead and had made it to 77 before the home side suffered their own batting collapse.

Cowan (29), Warner (41) and then Rob Quiney (0) all fell to Rory Kleinveldt while Ricky Ponting was bowled by Steyn for 16 and nightwatchman Peter Siddle was caught behind off Morkel for one as Australia lost five wickets for 34 runs.

Clarke was unbeaten on nine alongside Michael Hussey, who had five.

© Cricket World 2012