Alex Carey’s maiden hundred and Green’s hard-fought half-century bulldoze South Africa…
South Africa 189 and 15/1
Australia 575/8 declared (Warner 200, Alex Carey 111, Smith 85, Green 51 not out)
South Africa trail by 371 runs.
Alex Carey hits his maiden Test hundred and Australia scored big in the first innings of the Melbourne Test.
Australia piled on 575 runs without being all out and lead South Africa by 386 runs in the first innings.
South Africa lost captain Dean Elgar in the second over of their second innings, South Africa still trail by 371 runs to make Australia bat again in the second innings and an innings defeat looming large at them.
Rain brought an early finish of the day 3 at Melbourne Cricket Ground of this Boxing Day Test.
Australia scored 189 runs in 54 overs on an cloudy and windy day at the MCG.
Cameron Green, who is having a fractured finger defied his injury added 117 runs with Alex Carey for the eight wicket.
South Africa were on the field for 145 overs and more than 5 sessions. Australia declared their innings at the score of 575 losing 8 wickets.
When South Africa came out to bat for the second time they lost their captain Dean Elgar quickly and in the second over itself.
He was caught behind at the leg side off Pat Cummins.
Mitchell Starc bowled despite his finger injury and expected to continue bowling on the fourth day as well, he had to mop up the blood coming out from his finger almost after every delivery.
It’s a sheer display of courage and only sportsmen can do such things. Starc is not the only one who defied his injury but Green also batted after having a broken finger and scored an unbeaten half century.
Travis Head scored 50 off 54 balls before being clean bowled by Anrich Norje.
Travis Head’s dismissal brought David Warner who retired hurt after scoring 200 on the previous day but Norje bowled him too in the first ball Warner faced.
Norje was on a hattric but could not do so.
Read more– David Warner hits an epic unbeaten double hundred, Australia dominates
Australia finally declared their innings after piling up 575 losing 8 wickets.
Australia will have 4 men bowling attack on the fourth day and if required Labuchagne, Head and Smith will add up the bowling resources.
Green, with his fractured finger will unlikely take the field. MCG Test could have a result on the fourth day itself if Australia manage to bowl out South Africa for the second time.
By Nandan Chetry
