De Kock ton extends South Africa dominance

De Kock ton extends South Africa dominance

A complete day's play was abandoned due to persistent rain on Sunday, but that didn't dampen the spirits of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma, who continued from where they left off on Day 1. Both batsmen extended their rich vein of form in the Australia tour as they put South Africa in a commanding position at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday (November 14).

With scores of 122 (vs CA XI), 99 (vs SAus XI), 84 and 64 (1st Test) before this game, de Kock added another three-figure score to his superb tally in the series while Bavuma helped himself to a half-century as they added 144 runs for the sixth-wicket to help South Africa gain a substantial lead. The visitors were 288 for 6 at Lunch on Day 3, leading by 203.

Having bowled out Australia for a paltry 85 on the opening day and subsequently taking an 86-run lead, South Africa already had their noses in front, but they needed to put in the yards on the third day to drive home the advantage. Although there was no rain, it was overcast and the cold Monday morning was ideal for the bowlers to deliver early breakthroughs and minimise the damage. The sixth-wicket pair, however, was up to the task, going about the partnership in a clinical manner to frustrate the home team.

There were a few plays and misses in the first hour, but apart from that Bavuma and de Kock didn't appear to be in any sort of trouble as they contributed to the scorecard with a steady partnership. Be it showcasing strong defence, running the ones and twos or capitalising on those in their zone, Bavuma and de Kock skilfully negated the Australian bowlers while strengthening South Africa's grip on the game.

Bavuma was happy playing second fiddle to de Kock, whose stocks as a crucial middle-order contributor rose steadily as he brought up his third fifty-plus score in as many innings after the former raised his bat for his second half-century of the series. As the session progressed, Australia found it harder to make any impact with the ball that was getting softer, enabling the pair to manoeuvre the field with ease as they raised a century stand off 184 deliveries.

Even spin failed to aid the home team's cause as Nathan Lyon did not find any help from the wicket and ended up conceding five boundaries in the seven overs that he bowled before the second new ball was taken. Much to Australia's despair, Peter Nevill missed a half stumping chance off Lyon's bowling to give de Kock a reprieve while a couple of edges off Bavuma's bat landed short of the fielders.

Nothing was going Australia's way and the hosts even lost a review when they decided to use the DRS a caught-behind decision. Hazlewood thought Bavuma had nicked a full delivery while attempting a drive and there was noise that suggested that he might have done so. However, replays revealed that it was bat hitting the ground as Australia's wait for a wicket continued.

There was finally some respite for Australia when de Kock (104), soon after registering his second Test ton, was bowled through the gap between his bat and pad, giving Hazlewood his third wicket of the innings. Meanwhile, Bavuma survived another leg before appeal and Australia lost another review, and the right-hander was also dropped by Callum Ferguson at mid-on off Joe Mennie. South Africa lost only one wicket in the session, having added 117 runs at a run-rate of over three in the session.

Brief scores: Australia 85 trail South Africa 288/6 (Quinton de Kock 104, Temba Bavuma 74*; Josh Hazlewood 3-71, Mitchell Starc 3-71) by 203 runs.