De Villiers and Rabada put Proteas in control

Kagiso Rabada struck shortly before the close to restore South Africa’s ascendancy on the third day of the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park yesterday.

Australia were 180-5 in their second innings at the close, a slender lead of 41 runs with five wickets remaining. A magnificent century by AB de Villiers enabled the hosts to take a first innings lead of 139 and Australia lost four wickets before they wiped out the deficit.

But Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh shared a fighting fifth-wicket partnership of 87 and almost succeeded in taking their team through to the fourth day with at least a glimmer of hope.

Then Rabada struck for the third time in the innings. Bowling around the wicket he trapped Khawaja (75) in front of the stumps.

Khawaja and Marsh (39 not out) came together when Australia were 86-4 but batted for more than two hours on a pitch which was largely placid. In contrast to the first innings, there was no pronounced reverse swing for the bowlers.

Earlier, De Villiers made a magnificent 126 not out and had good support from the tail as South Africa scored freely before they were all out for 382 shortly before the scheduled lunch break.

Vernon Philander (36) and Maharaj (30) helped De Villiers add 84 for the eighth wicket and 58 for the ninth wicket as South Africa dominated a sunny morning.

Australia’s fast bowlers, who had a heavy workload on the previous day, wilted under an assault in which De Villiers played some breathtaking strokes.

He hit 20 fours and a six in a 146-ball innings. It was his 22nd Test century and his sixth against Australia.

Philander played a solid innings, while Maharaj slammed two sixes and three fours off 24 balls. He appeared to have been caught when he hit his first six off Nathan Lyon but Khawaja stepped over the boundary before tossing the ball back infield to complete the catch.

South Africa added 119 runs off 23.4 overs before a direct hit from Smith in the covers ran out last man Ngidi at the bowler’s end.

South Africa started well with the ball. Fast bowler Rabada made a key breakthrough when he bowled David Warner for 13 during a hostile opening spell in which his fastest delivery was timed at 151kph.

Cameron Bancroft was bowled off an inside edge by Lungi Ngidi for 24 and captain Steve Smith was caught behind off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj shortly before tea for 11.

Rabada struck again when he had Shaun Marsh caught behind for one with the second ball after tea but the South Africans had to toil, having unsuccessful leg-before wicket reviews against both batsmen.