Australia Vs South Africa, 3rd Test: Weather Halts Play As Australia End Day 1 At 147/2 Vs Proteas
Weather halts Australia’s 147-2 in 3rd test against Proteas
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja both made half-centuries as hapless South Africa were twice ruled out by the TV umpire before poor light and rain brought a premature end to the opening day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Khawaja and Labuschagne shared a 135-run partnership after Australia won the toss and bat, chasing down the three-match series and confirming their place in the Test World Cup final later this year.
On Wednesday, Australia were 147-2 with Khawaja unbeaten
Labuschagne was dismissed by Anrich Nortje for 79, the last ball of a shortened day that lost more than three hours to weather conditions.
The day could have been much brighter for South Africa had the TV umpire agreed with his colleagues on the field with two close calls against the tourists in a busy middle session. Khawaja survived an lbw appeal from Simon Harmer with the second ball after lunch. The opener was awarded by the on-field umpire, but Khawaja immediately asked for a review by the TV umpire, which showed that the ball had hit the batsman’s glove on its way to the pad, to have the decision overturned.
Labuschagne was even luckier when he edged Harmer at first slip from Marc Jansen on 70. Labuschagne stood his ground as South Africa celebrated the wicket. After several minutes of deliberation, the TV referee determined that the ball had not gone clean to Harmer and overturned the on-field challenge to earn Labuschagne a reprieve.
Labuschagne had earlier claimed his 14th Test 50 off 10 balls with a blistering stroke against Kagiso Rabada, his ninth boundary of the innings.
Khawaja made his 4,000th Test run in 56 matches and shortly afterwards completed his half-century off 113 balls as he edged closer to another century after two centuries against England on his triumphant return to Test cricket at the SCG last year.
Bad light then forced the players off the field just after the drinks break in the afternoon. Heavy rain then started at the site, which caused a shutdown of almost three hours.
When play finally resumed, just four more overs were bowled before the game fell victim to bad light again. But that was enough time for the formidable Nortje (2-26) to dismiss Labuschagne with a steeply rising delivery that the batsman could only parry and edge past wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynn to have Australia on 147-2.
The game was then stopped by the umpires due to worsening lighting and rain showers which appeared to the disappointment of the 31,264 crowd at the SCG.
Earlier, Australia lost David Warner in the fourth over with Nortje, again the most threatening of the Proteas bowlers, but settled to reach 68-1 at lunch.
Warner (10) took Rabada for two first boundaries but was not as clinical against Nortje as he cut a wide ball off the bowler that he edged to Marc Jansen at first slip to put Australia on 12-1.
Australia have already won the series after two crushing defeats in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne. Both Tests brutally exposed South Africa’s fragile batting line-up, with the Proteas only managing a top score of 204 in four innings.
A win for Australia in this third Test would confirm their place in the final of the Test World Cup to be played at Lord’s in England this June.
Spinner Ashton Agar and batsman Matthew Renshaw have replaced Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, who are both sidelined with finger injuries sustained during the Boxing Day Test.
Scott Boland has also made way for Josh Hazlewood, who returns on home soil after recovering from a side strain that kept him out for three Tests this summer.
After the start of the game, the Australian team management announced that Renshaw had reported feeling unwell shortly before the match and had subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus, but would still take part in the match.
