Tea Australia 138 for 1 (Labuschagne 73*, Khawaja 51*, Nortje 1-20) vs South Africa
Marnus Labuschagne survived a contentious low-catch choice throughout an abbreviated center session on day one as Australia annoyed a lacklustre South Africa within the third Test at a dark SCG.
After captain Pat Cummins gained a vital toss and elected to bat on a dry floor, Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja constructed a powerful platform with a century partnership after the early lack of opener David Warner.
In distinction to a sedate first session, they put the foot down to attain 70 runs in 15 overs earlier than dangerous mild introduced a halt to the second session with Australia properly positioned at 138 for 1.
But the speaking level was when Labuschagne, on 70, seemed to be dismissed out of nowhere when he edged seamer Marco Jansen to first slip the place Simon Harmer claimed a low catch.
It was given out on the smooth sign however Labuschagne stood his floor and it appeared tough to show from replays whether or not Harmer had his fingers underneath the ball near the turf.
Third umpire Richard Kettleborough overturned the choice a lot to the frustration of South Africa. It solely furthered Labuschagne’s repute as a reasonably charmed batter however he had performed imperiously earlier than that contentious incident with 5 boundaries in 12 balls to go from 40 to 61.
After bowling properly earlier than lunch, Harmer trapped Khawaja lbw with the second supply of the second session just for the choice to be reversed when replays confirmed the ball hit the glove first.
Having revived his profession a yr in the past with twin centuries in opposition to England on this floor, Khawaja handed 4000 profession Test runs en path to a half-century.
Under-pressure South Africa captain Dean Elgar resisted his quicks amid overcast and humid situations in Sydney and as a substitute determined to make use of spinners Harmer and Keshav Maharaj in tandem after lunch.
While Harmer threatened, significantly in opposition to the left-handed Khawaja, the batters fancied counterattacking Maharaj whose depressing sequence continued. He has now bowled 52.5 overs with out reward on this sequence.
Elgar unusually caught with Maharaj as a substitute of Harmer as Labuschagne put the foot down. He was additionally belligerent in opposition to fast Kagiso Rabada, who continued his underwhelming sequence.
After a lionhearted effort in Melbourne, speedster Anrich Nortje was the decide of the bowlers within the first session and was rewarded with the wicket of Warner.
Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood and Matthew Renshaw have been named in an Australia group making an attempt a clear sweep of the sequence and a spot within the World Test Championship remaining in June.
With the SCG floor set to play extra historically, Australia named two frontline spinners at dwelling for the primary time in six years with left-armer Agar making his return having not performed Test cricket since 2017.
Regular fast Hazlewood returns from a aspect pressure having edged out cult favorite Scott Boland and uncapped tearaway Lance Morris.
Along with Harmer, who changed Lungi Ngidi, South Africa named batter Heinrich Klaasen instead of Theunis de Bruyn who has returned dwelling for the delivery of his first baby. The Proteas nonetheless have a slim probability at qualifying for the WTC remaining with a comfort victory.
Rain is forecast in Sydney within the afternoon and night.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based mostly in Perth