Despite South Africa chipping away with wickets throughout the third day, Australia strengthened their grip on the opening Test between the two sides when bad light caused an early stop to Saturday’s play at Durban.
The visitors were batting on 213-9 in their second innings when stumps were called with an overall lead of 402.
We look at the key talking points from what was a pivotal day of cricket in the first Test.
STEVE SMITH’S 10,000
After his fifty in the first innings, Steve Smith was once again looking solid and on course for his sixth consecutive score of 50 plus when he was dismissed for 38. Nevertheless, the Aussie skipper notched up 10,000 international runs during the course of his knock, becoming the 13th from his country to do so.
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Smith’s average while getting those runs – 50.6 – is the third highest among all batsmen who have reached the mark.
Highest batting average in international cricket…
(min 10000 intl runs)
55.60 – Virat Kohli
50.80 – Joe Root
50.55* – Steve Smith
49.10 – Jacques Kallis
49.00 – Mike Hussey
48.75 – Viv Richards
48.52 – Sachin Tendulkar#SAvAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 3, 2018
MAHARAJ STANDS OUT
While the Proteas pacers grabbed the attention coming into the match, it was Keshav Maharaj who stood out in the first innings with a five-wicket haul.
He followed it up with three wickets on the third day to take his match tally to eight. The young left-armer is fast developing a solid reputation with his orthodox, yet wily spin bowling.
ELGAR’S GOLDEN ARM
Smith survived a close lbw shout which was turned down by the umpire when batting on 30 against Keshav Maharaj. The hosts reviewed immediately however, with the Aussie skipper saved by millimetres.
His luck ran out eight overs later as he was adjudged lbw against Dean Elgar in his very first over. Smith opted to review but there was no relief as he became the first batsman to be dismissed twice by Elgar, a part-time spinner with only 14 Test wickets to his name.
A few decent scalps in Dean Elgar's 14 Test wickets.
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) March 3, 2018
That's the second time he's got Smith out (bowled him in Cape Town in '14), has also dismissed Misbah, Pujara, Rahane, Dhawan and Tamim #SAvAUS
SOUTH AFRICA’S UPHILL BATTLE
With Australia’s lead over 400, the hosts will have to achieve the impossible with the bat to get anything out of this Test. The highest total ever chased down on South African soil in the final innings is 340 by the hosts themselves against the same opposition at the same venue in 2002.
Kingsmead is no longer the fortress it once was for the South Africans. Since 2008, they have won only one Test at the venue, against India in 2013. This period has included losses against Sri Lanka, Australia and England. Hence, when Faf du Plessis‘ men come out to bat, they will be up against history.
The hosts will face unprecedented task in their second innings.
