S Africa crush Australia by 322 runs in 3rd test, Smith not to play 4th test

Speed Post News Network

Patna : South Africa crushed Australia by 322 runs in the third test on the fourth day at Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, on March 25, 2018, with fast bowler Morne Morkel, who has announced his retirement from international cricket after this four-match test series, taking five wickets. Morkel had also taken four wickets in Australia’s first innings. South Africa now lead the 4-match series 2-1 winning the second and third tests.

Set a target of 430 runs to win the third test, Austrlia were all out for a paltry 107 in 39.4 overs in their second innings with openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft scoring 32 and 26 runs respectively. Both were involved in 57 run partnership for the first wicket. While the first Australian wicket fell when the score was 57, the next three wickets fell with the score reading 59.

Steven Smith, who was on March 25 morning sacked as the captain of Australia by CA in the wake of ball tampering controversy on the third day of the match on March 24, 2018, was out for 7 while Usman Khwaja made 1. Shaun Marsh was out for a duck while his younger brother and allrounder Mitchell Marsh was out for 16. Stand- in captain and wicketkeeper Tim Paine remained unbeaten on 9. Bancroft and spinner Nathan Lyon were run out. Mitchell Starc was out for 7 while Pat Cummins was out for duck. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood made 5 runs.

For South Africa, Morkel took 5/23 in 9.4 overs while spinner Keshav Maharaj took 2/32 in 12 overs. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who had taken four wickets in Australia’s first innings, took 1/31 in second innings. Australia had scored 255 runs in their first innings.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 238/5, South Africa were all out for 373 runs in their second innings on March 25 with pacer Vernon Philander scoring an unbeaten 52 in 79 balls with 6 fours and a six. A B de Villiers scored 63 runs in 136 balls with 7 fours and a six while wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock made 65 in 97 balls with 8 fours and a six. Captain Faf du Plessis was out for 20. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada also made 20.

For Australia, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewoon, and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each while Mitchell Starc took one wicket.

Smith suspened for one test : Steven Smith, who was sacked as Captain of Australia, will not play the fourth and final test of the series as the ICC has suspended him for one test. Smith has also been slapped a fine of hundred percent match fee. Opener David Warner has also been sacked as vice-captain of the team by CA. Opener Cameron Bancroft has been slapped a fine of 75 % match fee as it was he who was found tampering the ball with the approval of leadership group.