De Kock celebrates after scoring his second Test century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia showed some fight against South Africa on the third day of the second Test in Hobart, but the Proteas still hold the upper hand heading into the penultimate day.

After the second day was washed out due to persistent rain, South Africa resumed their innings on 171/5 and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma continued where they had left off on the first day.

The pair took the attack to Australia and kept on increasing South Africa’s lead as they converted their 39-run partnership into a 144-run stand, during which De Kock brought up his hundred and Bavuma his fifty.

With the Proteas firmly in the driver’s seat, Australia desperately needed a breakthrough, and they were ultimately rewarded with one when Josh Hazlewood clean bowled De Kock for 104 off 143 balls, which included 17 boundaries.

During his fantastic knock, De Kock made his fifth consecutive score of 50 or more and became just the fifth South African player to achieve this feat. The 23-year-old also became the first wicketkeeper to make a hundred on Australian soil before the age of 24. Prior to De Kock, Australia’s Matthew Wade held the record as he scored a century when he was 25.

Bavuma went on to make 74 off 204 deliveries, which included eight boundaries, before he became debutant Joe Mennie’s first victim in Test cricket.

Bavuma scored his fourth Test fifty

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Keshav Maharaj and Kyle Abbott fell shortly after as they were both dismissed by Hazlewood, but a quickfire 32 by Vernon Philander saw South Africa reach 326 before they were bowled out. This gave them a 241-run lead as Australia were bundled out for 85 in their first innings on the opening day.

Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets, while Mitchell Starc snapped up three and Mennie chipped in with one.

Hazlewood finished with figures of 6-89 off 30.5 overs

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Trailing by 241 runs, Australia got off to a dismal start once again as opener Joe Burns was caught behind off the bowling of Abbott for a duck on the fourth ball of the innings.

Australia made up for the early loss of Burns as David Warner and Usman Khawaja amassed a 79-run partnership before Warner was cleaned up by Abbott for 45.

The Baggy Greens did not lose any more wickets though as Khawaja and captain Steven Smith put together an unbeaten 42-run stand, during which Khawaja surpassed his half-century, before bad light brought play to an end for the day.

Khawaja finished on 56 off 103 balls, which included eight boundaries, while Smith remained undefeated on 18 off 32 deliveries, which included three boundaries.

Khawaja struck eight boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 56

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Abbott was the only bowler to take any wickets.

Australia ended day three on 121/2 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 10:00 local time or 23:00 GMT (the previous day).