Australia v/s South Africa: Steady Aussies close in on consolation win in third Test

Australia were 100 runs from a consolation victory in the day-night third test on Sunday after dismissing South Africa for 250 and reaching tea on the fourth day on 27 without loss.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc earlier finished with figures of 4-80 as Australia removed the last four South African batsmen for the addition of 56 runs to their overnight second innings tally. That left the hosts requiring 127 runs for victory and David Warner, who had made 20 not out, and debutant opener Matt Renshaw, unbeaten on three, will resume looking to complete the victory long before night falls in South Australia.

South Africa had resumed on 194-6 but lost Quinton de Kock in the third over of the day before the new ball accounted for Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and finally opener Stephen Cook. Cook, under pressure after making a minor contribution to the victories in the first two tests, had eked out his second test century off 235 balls, bringing up the milestone by pulling Josh Hazlewood to the square leg boundary for his eighth four.

He added four more runs before Starc got one to nip back in and bowl him for 104 to bring an end to the innings. Australia made 383 in reply to South Africa's first innings 259-9 declared. The tourists won the first two tests in Perth and Hobart to take a 2-0 lead and be assured of a third successive test series triumph in Australia.