Live updates from the third day of the final Test at Adelaide Oval
Email: geoff.lemon@theguardian.com | Tweet: @GeoffLemonSport
7.23am GMT
26th over: South Africa 82-2 (Cook 28)
Beautiful bowling again from Hazlewood! Last ball of the over, back of a length, it hit the pitch hard and seamed away. Amla was again pushing hard well in front of his body. The ball took a tiny nick, clipped his back hip and went to Wade, who took the straightforward chance. Amla obviously didn’t know that he hit it, because he immediately reviewed the decision. but Hot Spot showed a small but clear mark. Relief for Australia, but that missed chance earlier has cost them 30-odd runs that could be important later in this fairly low-scoring game. South Africa still 42 behind.
7.16am GMT
25th over: South Africa 82-1 (Cook 28, Amla 45)
That’s enough Lyon for now, says Smith, and Jackson Bird returns. Similar to his early spell: five tight balls on the off, one loose ball on the pads that is put away by Cook for two runs.
7.11am GMT
24th over: South Africa 80-1 (Cook 28, Amla 45)
Starc isn’t done yet. Oversteps on his first ball searching for extra pace, and Cook gets off strike, but follows up with a fierce short ball that Amla gets underneath on the backward sway. Amla leaves, waits. He’s standing outside his leg stump and then shuffling across slightly into line as the bowler delivers. Starc gives him a short length, barely any width but Amla cuts perfectly for four. Starc follows up with one straight at the glvoes and the batsman yanks his hand away in startled fashion. Good battle.
7.05am GMT
23rd over: South Africa 74-1 (Cook 27, Amla 41)
Here we are, the tempo has changed. The pendulum swung. Lyon sends down a couple of good balls, but then gets too full. Amla drives him through cover for four, then saunters down the track and lifts him straight down the ground for a marginal six, just clearing the rope at the fig-tree end of the stadium. Lyon’s struggles continue.
7.03am GMT
22nd over: South Africa 64-1 (Cook 27, Amla 31)
Amla drives Starc for three runs, then Cook soaks him up. Batting looking easier and easier out there.
7.00am GMT
21st over: South Africa 61-1 (Cook 27, Amla 28)
Lyon carries on, mixing up his flight and his flat ones, Amla trying a hard sweep that he misses utterly but jabs away with his forearm for three ley byes. A couple of singles also come.
6.56am GMT
20th over: South Africa 56-1 (Cook 26, Amla 27)
The pressure is off. Amla has had his life, Starc has lost his accuracy, and Amla lashes a full ball on the drive and a short ball on the cut. Eight runs, then a single.
thats what you get when you dont pick a wicket keeper. #backstop
I'm willing to forgive Wade for that one because of all the runs he made with the bat...#AUSvSA
6.52am GMT
19th over: South Africa 47-1 (Cook 26, Amla 18)
Interesting times here. Stephen Cook has obviously decided to go after Nathan Lyon. He and Amla trade singles, then Cook comes down the pitch to drive through midwicket for four. He goes again a couple of balls later, this time not getting to the pitch of it, and trying to whipe a ball that wasn’t full enough. Instead it shoots high in the air, but comes down safely over backwards square leg for a couple of runs.
6.47am GMT
18th over: South Africa 39-1 (Cook 19, Amla 17)
Dropped! The drinks break nearly does it again, but an inexperienced combination of wicketkeeper and first slip cocks it up. Starc bowling, good heat, Amla pushed hard at the ball, regulation edge. Renshaw is a little wide at first slip, and it went to his left-hand side. Renshaw extended the arm fully, was late to move, only got one hand on it. But the width of the ball indicates that the keeper should really have gone for it. Wade didn’t even twitch for it.
6.42am GMT
17th over: South Africa 35-1 (Cook 19, Amla 13)
Amla still grinding away, he sees off Lyon’s over with a single from the fifth ball and gets through to the drinks break. And breathe.
6.35am GMT
16th over: South Africa 34-1 (Cook 19, Amla 12)
Amla is getting a little twitchy now. Needs to channel his famous reserves of patience and calm. Throws the bat at Bird, edges over slips for four.
6.28am GMT
15th over: South Africa 28-1 (Cook 19, Amla 7)
Nathan Lyon has copped some criticism recently, but it’s more a case of a bad patch than a bad bowler. In fact, Australians seem to keep forgetting how impressive his record is. Currently he’s on 214 Test wickets. Clarrie Grimmet, the famed 30s leggie, is on 216. Which means that three more wickets, and the only spinners ahead of Lyon on the tally will be named Benaud and Warne.
6.25am GMT
14th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)
A fairly close midwicket, a square leg and a mid-on are in position, allowing Bird to attack the stumps once in a while. He takes advantage of that, and a good stop at that midwicket spot stops any runs. Amla is otherwise tied down by the off-stump line. The Australian seamers are well disciplined today, but Nathan Lyon is warming up.
6.23am GMT
13th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)
Hazlewood back to maiden form. The first four balls draw defensive strokes and leaves. The last two Cook drives to the field.
6.20am GMT
12th over: South Africa 22-1 (Cook 14, Amla 6)
Bird plugging away on that off stump, but again lets one slip too straight and Cook is able to glance a single. He’s not racking up the runs, but he’s been able to just keep the engine ticking over.
@GeoffLemonSport Schopenhauer's magnum opus, the World as Will and Representation, is made up of numbered but untitled chapters
6.16am GMT
11th over: South Africa 21-1 (Cook 13, Amla 6)
Hashim Amla has been out to Josh Hazlewood in all four innings so far this series. So the batsman will be relieved when he’s brought onto strike, faces one ball with a defensive shot, then drives beautifully through mid-off for four.
6.12am GMT
10th over: South Africa 16-1 (Cook 12, Amla 2)
Bird continues to land them on the spot. His last outing, in Christchurch, he wasn’t great in the first innings and came good with five wickets in the second. Some signs of the same formula here, he’s got better as the match has worn on. Just a disciplined over here, hanging around the off stump for five balls, Cook defending until he gets one straighter and glances a single. Stephen Cook toughing it out again, as in the first innings.
6.07am GMT
9th over: South Africa 15-1 (Cook 11, Amla 2)
Hazlewood, the maiden machine. That sounds like a Schopenhauer chapter. He doesn’t quite get the maiden this time, conceding a single at the last, as Cook squirts one away. But the Hoff has given up two runs from four overs.
6.01am GMT
8th over: South Africa 14-1 (Cook 10, Amla 2)
Jackson Bird on early, after his triumph with the bat – outscored Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade combined earlier in the day. Bowls better at the outset than he did in Innings 1. There’s a huge appeal for one that hit outside the line, so not out for Cook, who then pushes three runs through point.
5.57am GMT
7th over: South Africa 11-1 (Cook 7, Amla 2)
Bit of a waste from Starc to Amla, who only had to play once during that over. The rest were wider, or short enough for Amla to sway away.
Will need to check the math but if you add the moral victory quotient, the 2-1 series loss will become an overall win for Australia. #AUSvSA
5.54am GMT
6th over: South Africa 11-1 (Cook 7, Amla 2)
Hazlewood coming hard at Amla, hits his bat and cracks it near the splice. The South African has to replace it. Amla eventually gets off strike with a single, the only run from from Hazlewood’s three overs so far.
5.49am GMT
5th over: South Africa 10-1 (Cook 7, Amla 1)
Oh, yes. Cricket. Starc gives Cook a full working over, testing him outside off, swinging into his toes, bouncing at his ribs, before slipping one too straight from the last ball and being whipped for four.
5.47am GMT
4th over: South Africa 6-1 (Cook 3, Amla 1)
A maiden to Hashim Amla from Hazlewood, who pins him down. Amla has struggled a bit this series, 0 and 1 in Perth, then 47 in Hobart. If he makes less than 27 today, his career average will slip under 50.
5.44am GMT
Brilliant effort to get close to a ton by the Cuban veteran, but he falls short after tiring towards the end. Stubborn innings by a divisive player, and the applause from some sections of the crowd is less grudging than others as he departs.
Your Guardian news update is here.
5.42am GMT
3rd over: South Africa 6-1 (Cook 3, Amla 1)
How many times has Mitchell Starc taken a wicket in his first over? He did it in about four or five of the seven limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka mid-year, but doing it in Tests is more difficult without players swatting across the line.
5.39am GMT
2nd over: South Africa 1-1 (Cook 1, Amla 0)
A maiden follows, as Hazlewood tightens up the line. It looks pretty good for batting out there today, South Africa just have to get through the new ball.
5.32am GMT
1st over: South Africa 1-1 (Cook 1, Amla 0)
Perfect start for the Aussies, with South Africa 123 behind.
5.28am GMT
And we’re away! First over, Mitch Starc swings in a beauty from over the wicket to the left-hander, it’s full and Elgar comes down the wrong line, almost across the ball and gets a thick edge low to the ground. Smith flings himself rightwards like a desperate centrist politician chasing nationalist votes, and holds on by a margin of 2%.
5.25am GMT
French, Romance, Countrymensch. Loan me your eagles. Let them soar free. Geoff Lemon with you – hit me up on email at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or slide into my DMs on Twitter via @GeoffLemonSport. I’m also on Tinder if you’re in Adelaide and want to swipe your way to me past Warnie. I may not post those messages on the Guardian.
5.10am GMT
Bird cutting close to his body, but he edges straight to du Plessis at second slip. It flew fast to his stomach, but he completed the catch to give Rabada a third wicket. Australia are all out, earning a 124 run first-innings lead.
And with 28 minutes remaining to the scheduled tea break, they’ll take it early before South Africa roll out for their second hit. Just about the perfect session for Australia, the last four wickets adding exactly 100 runs last night and this afternoon.
5.03am GMT
121st over: Australia 383-9 (Hazlewood 11, Bird 6) A single to each, Bird’s coming from an inside edge that nearly went to hand at short leg, frustrating the Proteas.
5.01am GMT
120th over: Australia 381-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 5) Bird positive solid against Rabada there. It’s a maiden, but he had to play all but one delivery and did so confidently and on the front foot. The penultimate ball whacked him on the arm and probably stung a bit, but he can be proud of his application. Never hurts for a No11 to have accounted for themselves well with the bat just before going back out for a long bowl.
4.57am GMT
119th over: Australia 381-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 5) Bird content in defence against Shamsi, then driving to mid-on with a stroke that has a bit of technique to it. I thought this bloke couldn’t bat? A big wrong-un to the left-handed Hazlewood is not picked, nearly resulting in a catch to midwicket, but he survives to see another over.
Today was the first time that Nathan Lyon was the first wicket for anyone. #AusvRSA
4.54am GMT
118th over: Australia 380-9 (Hazlewood 10, Bird 4) Big Josh Hazlewood’s turn to get that board ticking over with cagey little slips push, annoying Rabada with an edge through the cordon that trickles away to the rope. A couple more are added when the quick strays onto his pads. All of a sudden that lead is 121.
Placement!
LIVE: https://t.co/R0wFabVv46 #AUSvSA https://t.co/w0KVvQMGbg
4.50am GMT
117th over: Australia 373-9 (Hazlewood 4, Bird 3) A lot of chat about Jack Bird’s batting a few weeks ago when Rod Marsh said he wasn’t picked for the First Test because his batting wasn’t up to scratch. Ahhh, what times they were. Having surely worked on his batting game since that unorthodox setback, he edges beyond Amla at slip to pick up three runs at the end of the Shamsi over. After toiling so long for his first Test wicket, that’s his 27th over, he nearly had two in the space of four balls.
Alright Rod Mash, buckle up for a fiery Jackson Bird hundred. #AusvSA #Firebird
4.46am GMT
Compulsive sweeper Lyon falls to his favourite shot! To the first two balls of the over he picked up runs with it into the legside, but the third effort ended up straight in the air off a top edge. Shamsi has his first Test wicket! All told, not a bad cameo from the Australian offie.
4.44am GMT
116th over: Australia 366-7 (Hazlewood 4, Lyon 9) Nathan Lyon’s innings in last year’s Day/Night Test was highly controversial, given not out by the third umpire after SMASHING it. But it was also vital, the last wicket stand he shared ultimately getting Australia a first-innings lead just big enough to win the game 24 hours later. Can he do the same here? Early signs a good, a wonderful clip through midwicket away to the boundary, putting Australia’s lead beyond 100. Lyon isn’t done yet, two through cover then three over point. Nine runs and a wicket from it. Eventful!
Starc's first 50 since the Oval in 2015, overdue for someone of his ability #ausvsa
4.38am GMT
After saying all of that, the first ball after their glass of cordial and bag of raspberry frogs (or sugary designate), the South Africans have got rid of Starc! Misreading the length, he only succeeded in pushing to Rabada in his follow through, who did the rest with ease. His second wicket.
4.36am GMT
115th over: Australia 357-7 (Starc 53, Hazlewood 4) There’s the highlight of Starc’s innings, launching Shamsi back over his head with peak style to bring up his fifty! Really can’t speak highly enough of this hand, coming in as Australia lost 3-for-10 last night, the South African bowlers well on top. But he withstood the temptation to swing the bat last night, survived, and has taken full advantage this morning. It’s such a big part of these day/night Tests, doing the hard yards under lights to earn the right for a much bigger go when the sun is out. Very mature.
This over also marks the end of a top hour for the hosts, their lead swelling to 98. Sure, they lost Khawaja along the way. But they’re now really driving this Test Match.
4.32am GMT
114th over: Australia 352-7 (Starc 48, Hazlewood 4) Tidy batting from Starc, getting just enough on Rabada to get himself four to fine leg. He’s in very good nick here. He’s beaten the next ball by one that talks, and it is coming down at a very decent clip, but both the Australians are doing this well. One over to drinks. Oh, and the Australian 350 is up as well.
4.30am GMT
113rd over: Australia 347-7 (Starc 43, Hazlewood 4) And Shamsi is chucked the ball to replace Philander, making it a double change. Still wicketless on debut, but he’s been bowling well in the game. Runs with the bat, chirping away at the Australians in the field, bowling his share of hard-spun unplayables. Bold to say this right at the moment, but I reckon they might have found a good’un there. Sure enough after typing all that his first ball is launched over long-on by Starc, who had enough time to swing the arms. He beat Hazlewood later with one of those aforementioned unplayables. Anyway, he’s still got none-fa so I should probably stop talking him up already.
4.23am GMT
112th over: Australia 340-7 (Starc 37, Hazlewood 3) Rabada into the attack for the first time today. Good call. He replaces Abbott from the Southern End, running away from us. He’s a solid yard quicker than his teammates, maintaining a straight line to Hazlewood, who is relatively comfortable in defence. He’s fallen away a bit with the bat of late, but don’t forget that Hazlewood has played some very impressive innings for Australia. Especially the 80-odd balls he faced at No11 at Dominica last year, helping Adam Voges to his ton on debut. The point: don’t get the pads on quite yet, South Africa.
Pleasure overload with all the cricket on, as pointed out here by Ethan.
Three Tests, three Shield matches on right now. What a time.
4.17am GMT
111st over: Australia 338-7 (Starc 37, Hazlewood 1) Nothing quite so painful for a fast bowler than being hammered by another fast bowler. Philander experienced that pain here, blasted into the crowd by Starc with a beautifully timed pull/hook number, depending on your definition.
Is Starc the best since Pistol for Australian fast bowlers who bat? Not a bad shout, but Mitch Johnson probably has a claim with a Test ton and all. What do you reckon?
Love watching Starc bat, reckon he might be the best 'bowling batsman' we've had since Reiffel. Smooth as anything.
4.13am GMT
110th over: Australia 330-7 (Starc 30, Hazlewood 0) Starc misses an Abbott short ball and it scones him on the helmet. A fair bit of time taken out of the game here as the usual process is gone through, his helmet replaced. He’s fine to continue the innings. After the delay Starc is immediately beaten outside the off-stump feeling for a drive. Still has some work to do with the bat before Australia can be satisfied.
Khawaja's innings was characterised by hard work more than fluency with him recording an unusual SR of less than 100 on the drive. #AusvSA pic.twitter.com/bNS0oKIT2T
4.06am GMT
109th over: Australia 327-7 (Starc 29, Hazlewood 0) 466 minutes Khawaja batted for, coming in unexpectedly at the top of the lists a couple of days ago, now leaving with Australia 68 ahead. Philander was the man with the wicket maiden. Against the run of play, so to speak. But he has the chance now to run through the tail. Make no mistake, it’s still very much game on.
A well deserved standing ovation if ever we've seen one. What a performance #AUSvSA https://t.co/fOF0nF0wxo
4.03am GMT
At last! It had to be a quality delivery to get a bloke who has faced 307 balls, and it was, jagging off the seam and trapping him on the crease. Khawaja reviewed, because he’s worth it. But he was already 3/4 the way off the ground as DRS did its thing, knowing full well he was out. But what a contribution. Said it before and will again: the best he’s played for Australia, and probably the best anyone’s played for Australia since Michael Clarke at Cape Town in February 2014.
4.00am GMT
108th over: Australia 327-6 (Khawaja 145, Starc 29) From Lara to Laxman in the space of an over, or something like that. Starc’s wrists so fine, four to point. A couple more when a big old slog goes over long-off. That’s more like it! Six from the over. Easy peasy.
Starc has zero interest in helping Khawaja reach 150. #AUSvSA
3.57am GMT
107th over: Australia 321-6 (Khawaja 145, Starc 23) Starc doing his best Brian Lara, high backlift making good contact, the ball racing away to the long-off boundary. Didn’t get all of it, so he only gets three, but it sure looked good. Philader isn’t making a dint yet in this spell. He falls onto Khawaja’s pads with the last ball of the set, and he’s naturally enough up to the task of tucking away two more behind square. More great batting, the lead now 62. Healthy.
Khawaja has favoured playing on the on side (93 runs) & off the back foot (79 runs) in his innings so far. #AusvSA
3.52am GMT
106th over: Australia 316-6 (Khawaja 143, Starc 20) Khawaja straight back into the tempo that has made this innings such a gem. Completely at easy leaving Abbott and patting him back when on the money. Bowl to me, he’s saying. And when that’s the case he drives, through cover on this occasion. A couple added to the total. Superb batting. Just the start Australia needed, altogether free of drama.
3.46am GMT
105th over: Australia 314-6 (Khawaja 141, Starc 20) One of those annoying delays where the ball is put through the two rings to work out whether it is still in shape. The assessment is is it needs a change. Sure the tourists will be happy with that given the lack of movement they have got in the first couple of overs this afternoon. Starc obviously likes the look of it, trying to put it on the moon at the first time of asking. But he missed. His more conservative push through point nets two runs. Much better. A point I’m sure his partner Khawaja will reinforce when they have a chat at the end of the over.
What stock of slightly used pink balls was available to pick out a replacement?#ausvsa
3.40am GMT
104th over: Australia 311-6 (Khawaja 140, Starc 18) Starc steers Abbott behind point to start his day. Controlled shot. He’s happy to leave and defend him for the rest of the over. Good areas, as they say in the classics, but not a huge amount of early movement from Kyle.
#WinViz at the start of day three ranks Australia as firm favourites. #AusvSA pic.twitter.com/MwHqKx96Sg
3.36am GMT
103rd over: Australia 309-6 (Khawaja 140, Starc 16) This is so well set up. Australia, if they can just eek out another 40? Or a triple figure lead, even? They’re really not that far away. If the opposite is true and they lose their way early, South Africa will enter the second innings marginally behind but confident. Vern isn’t right away on the money, spraying one down the legside and dropping onto Khawaja’s pads, who opens his account with a brace to square leg.
Interesting interview with SACA boss Keith Bradshaw on ABC radio before play, where he backed in the day/night Test for next year’s Ashes. Reckons it’d be sold out for the first four days. Blimey. Bradshaw also spoke glowingly about the “out the back” culture here at Adelaide Oval. Today they are having their first fashions on the field competition. As a veteran of many days on the green, I can only hope they get that out the way nice and early. They party hard (and early).
3.30am GMT
“How can you not love this Test Match?” Well put by Dirk Nannes on the radio, as the first ball is prepared to be bowled. Big Vern Philander has the ball in his hand, Usman Khawaja is up the business end. And... we’re... AWAY.
3.24am GMT
We have duelling OBOs!
I love it when this happens. My dear friend Vitushan Ehantarajah is over on the India v England tools, day one of their critical third Test at Mohali. My recommendation? Keep us both open. We’ll be talking to each other anyway. We’re cute like that.
Related: India v England, third Test: day one – live!
3.15am GMT
And what a day it is. The sun is screaming across the Adelaide Oval, looking an utter treat. And better still, we have a Test Match set up for a wonderful third day, Australia earning a 48 run lead to date with four wickets in hand. Adam Collins with you here as the clock ticks over to 1:45pm local time, meaning we’re just a quarter hour away from it all kicking off.
Usman Khawaja will resume his magnificent hand – his best yet for Australia – on 138. He batted with extreme patience last night after three quick Australian wickets fell as it went from twilight to dark, steadying the situation with Mitchell Starc who restarts his innings on 16.
5.20am GMT
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a wrap of day two’s action, in which Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb were the stars for the home side.
Related: Usman Khawaja guides Australia in day-night Test against South Africa
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