CRICKET NEWS - South Africa reduced Australia to an unconvincing 180 for five - and a small 41-run lead - on day three of the second test at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
The visitors had slipped to a fragile 86 for four, but half-centurion Usman Khawaja (75) and allrounder Mitchell Marsh (39 not out) shared a rearguard alliance of significant proportion to forge an advantage, rather than temper a deficit.
Marsh and Khawaja survived an lbw referral each, as Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis' use of the Decision Review System faltered, during a solid 87-run partnership. Kagiso Rabada struck late in the day, though, striking Khawaja on the pad - plumb enough in front of the stumps - to avoid another review.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine will resume alongside Marsh on Monday - and will target a total of at least 350. The South Africans, understandably, won't want to have to pursue more than 250.
Prior to tea, pace ace Kagiso Rabada bowled the left-handed David Warner (13) through the proverbial gate, after which first-change seamer Lungi Ngidi had the right-handed Cameron Bancroft (24) play a late drive onto the stumps.
