Inglis, Carey put Australia on top against S.Africa in series decider

Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 85 as Australia reached 330 for four at the close of the second day of the decisive third Test against hosts South Africa at Newlands on Wednesday.

Australia are one run ahead of South Africa’s score of 329 and in control of the match as they eye a commanding first-innings lead.

Inglis, who came into the side for the injured Steve Smith, shared an unbeaten 145 partnership with Alex Carey (51 not out) for the fifth wicket.

South Africa toiled in the field as all Australian batters except Marnus Labuschagne (0) got in and scored runs. The Newlands wicket is traditionally best for batting on days two and three and so it proved as there was little seam or swing for the home side’s pace attack.

“We knew that they were going to come hard through periods, and it was just about building partnerships,” opener Matt Renshaw, who scored 74, told reporters.

“It felt like a nice wicket. There’s a few balls starting to spin, a few balls that popped.

“The guys that have applied themselves have scored runs. It’s a rapid outfield, so that also helps the scoring rate a bit quicker.”

Renshaw and Travis Head (41) added 58 for the first wicket before spinner Simon Harmer (2-84) removed the latter with his first ball of the match.

Head chopped the ball on to his stumps playing off the back foot, an all too familiar mode of dismissal for him in recent times.

Labuschagne’s poor run in Tests continued when he fell for a duck, caught by Aiden Markram at slip off Harmer. Renshaw and Cameron Green added 126 for the third wicket before they also fell in quick succession, this time to fast bowler Marco Jansen (2-37).

Renshaw was caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton and Green edged to Harmer at slip.

Another substantial partnership from Inglis and Carey, however, means the momentum remains with Australia as South Africa failed to apply scoreboard pressure or create many wicket-taking opportunities.

The series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first Test by 214 runs in Durban and South Africa responded with a victory by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha.

The team who win the match will occupy the number one position in the Test world rankings, which is currently held by Australia.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc did not know Australia’s premier batsman Steve Smith would not take part in the decisive third Test until he went to warm-up ahead of play.

Smith tested his neck injury in the nets on Tuesday morning but was still experiencing discomfort, captain Pat Cummins said at the toss.

“He wasn’t happy with how his neck was feeling, so we had to look elsewhere,” Cummins said.

“I did not know he was not playing until I went out to warm-up today,” Starc told reporters after the day’s play. “He has been battling that neck since last week.

“I don’t actually know what happened with that and I have not asked. He seems upbeat enough, but I don’t know what he has had done.”

After winning the toss, Cummins opted to bowl, a rare decision at Newlands that might have been taken with the reshuffle of the top six batsmen after Inglis learnt just before the start he would replace Smith.

The move initially appeared to have backfired as South Africa made a strong start. However, Starc produced a masterful spell with the second new ball late in the day, finishing with figures of 6-72 as the hosts were dismissed for 329 on the stroke of stumps.

“I am not in that pay bracket,” Starc said when asked if he agreed with the decision to bowl first. “My opinion doesn’t matter. It is what it is. At one point it looked like we were bowling a fair bit tomorrow, so it was good to bowl them out today.

“There was clearly not as much swing and sideways movement as we thought might be on offer (early in the day). But we found different ways to be effective and if you delete that first session, I think the last two were back on what we expected.”

It was another see-saw day in a series that has already seen plenty of twists and turns.

“These are two very good cricket teams. At times it is going to get away from you, at times you will wrestle the momentum back, which we did in the second half the day,” Starc said.

“I expect more swings through the Test match as we now need to go and bat and they have a very good (bowling) attack.”

Agencies