South Africa vs Australia, Highlights, 3rd Test: South Africa End Day 1 on 266/8
Highlights, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test: South Africa ended Day 1 on 266/8 vs Australia
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bat first at Newlands in Cape Town. The pitch has a lot lesser grass than the India game and it hasn't aided the bowlers much. The seam movement has been almost negligible and overall it has proved to be a good surface for batting. Although the hosts lost the dangerous Aiden Markram early, Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla have added 69 runs together to take South Africa to 75/1 the end of the first session on Day 1. (SCORECARD)
Highlights of 3rd Test between South Africa and Australia straight from Newlands, Cape Town​
South Africa End Day 1 on 266/8 (Elgar 121*, Rabada 6*)
18:40 IST: From running between the wickets to exquisite ground shots, Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers are playing by the book.
Everything is going South Africa's way! It's Tea on Day 1 and the hosts are in cruise control mode.
After 55 overs, SA are 185/2
18:20 IST: Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers are playing some beautiful cricket that looks completely effortless.
Faf du Plessis' decision to bat first on a pitch with no purchase for the bowlers is paying off extremely well.
After 50 overs, SA are 165/2
18:00 IST: Dean Elgar is taking on Nathan Lyon now. Dances down the track and sends the ball flying over long-on for a SIX!, first of the match.
On the other end, AB de Villiers is hitting boundaries at every opportunity he is getting.
150 is up for the hosts in the 45th over.
After 45 overs, SA are 151/2
17:40 IST: AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar are facing no problem in scoring runs at a quick pace.
De Villiers, in particular, took no time to adapt to the conditions and started to score runs right from the word go.
While Elgar, who is batting with a lot of intent, has reached 3000 Test runs in his 48th match.
After 40 overs, SA are 125/2
17:18 IST: 100 is up for South Africa.
After 35 overs, SA are 101/2
17:00 IST: Amla c Pat Cummins b Hazlewood 31(87)
Hazlewood removes Amla on a short ball. Amla went for a pull but could not time it well. The ball took the top edge and the fine leg fielder completed the catch, breaking the gritty 86-run stand.
16:50 IST: Dean Elgar brings up his 12th Test fifty.
It has been a fighting innings from South Africa opener who has been able to tire out the bowlers.
16:00 IST: It's Lunch on Day 1 and South Africa are 75/1 after 28 overs.
15:50 IST: Dean Elgar has entered into a zone of his own now. He is playing some delightful cover drives.
After 25 overs, SA are 72/1
15:34 IST: Steve Smith has set an attacking field with two slips and a gully waiting for the edge.
Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla are not taking any chances and scoring at a consistent rate now. 50 up for the hosts in the 21st over.
After 21 overs, SA are 52/1
15:05 IST: Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla are now trying to consolidate South Africa after Aiden Markram's fall.
After 15 overs, SA are 31/1
14:40 IST: The Australian pace duo of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood has dominated the South African batsmen in the first 10 overs.
After 10 overs, SA are 18/1
14:22 IST: The Australian bowlers are not giving a free hand to South African batsmen to score runs freely.
After 5 overs, SA are 10/1
14:17 IST: Markram c Smith b Hazlewood 0(11)13:38 IST: Playing XIs:
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel
13:30 IST: TOSS: South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis wins toss, opts to bat against Australia in Cape Town
Hello and welcome from beautiful Newlands where @faf1307 has won the toss and elected to bat first. Team sheet to follow. #ProteaFire #SAvAUS #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/0OzHjo8i85
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) March 22, 2018
South Africa win the toss and elect to bat #SAvAUS. pic.twitter.com/TGp8TeWM1h
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 22, 2018
13:15 IST: Hello and welcome to the Live updates from the opening day of the third Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town.
Rabada's availability after overturning a ban for brushing the shoulder of Australia captain Steve Smith in the second Test simplifies South Africa's selection, allowing the hosts to name a squad of 17 players to allow for a variety of combinations. Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon said his side had "no dramas" with the decision to clear Rabada and were looking forward to facing him again. Australia are unlikely to make any changes to the team that has represented them in seven successive Tests. In addition to Starc, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was passed fit after suffering a groin strain in Port Elizabeth.