South Africa 100-2 in 2nd innings, still 24 behind Australia

Published Nov. 26, 2016 3:07 a.m. ET

foxsports

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) Australia's Josh Hazlewood dismissed Hashim Amla for the fifth time in as many innings, having the veteran batsman caught behind Saturday just as he threatened to accelerate South Africa's effort to erase a first-innings deficit in the day-night third test.

South Africa started its second innings 124 in arrears after dismissing Australia for 383 at the end of the first session on day three, and reached 100-2 at the dinner interval with opener Stephen Cook on 43 and an edgy J.P. Duminy on 5.

South Africa was in trouble early, when Australia pace spearhead Mitch Starc (1-30) removed Dean Elgar (1) on the fifth ball. The second-wicket pair moved the score cautiously to 35 before Starc had a chance put down off Amla when rookie Matt Renshaw failed to grip an edge that flew into the corridor between slip and wicketkeeper.

Amla went on the attack after being dropped on 13, stroking six boundaries and driven six off Nathan Lyon and pushing the partnership to 81 before he fell to Hazlewood (1-15) again.

One of the world's leading batsmen, Amla has had a poor series by his high standards despite South Africa's big wins in Perth and Hobart.

After scores of 0, 1, 47 and 5 in his first four innings, Amla was within range of a 32nd test half century when he got a thin edge to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. He wasted a referral, too, with technology confirming the dismissal on review.

Australia resumed on Saturday at 307-6 and added 76 for the loss of four wickets. Usman Khawaja and Starc added 20 to the overnight total before Khawaja was trapped lbw by Vernon Philander for 145, ending a 308-ball vigil that spanned the first three days of the test.

The century, the first by an Australian in the series and the most important of Khawaja's career, gave the new-look Australia XI hope of avoiding a three-test sweep.

The 29-year-old lefthander went in late on day one, survived 12 overs after South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis made a tactical declaration at 259-9, batted through the entire second day and for almost seven overs on the third.

His innings included partnerships of 137 with skipper Steve Smith (59), 99 with newcomer Peter Handscomb (54) and 44 with No. 8 Starc, who scored 53 and helped the lower order frustrate the South African attack.