Australia Close to Winning the Second Test and the Series Against South Africa Alex Carey scored his first century, putting Australia in command of the series.
After South Africa was bowled out for 189 in their first innings, the hosts declared at tea on 575-8 on day three with an ominous lead of 386. When play was abruptly called off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground due to persistent drizzle, the Proteas led 15-1.
After losing the first match in Brisbane, their attempt to win the three-match series and the Test got off to a terrible start.
Sarel Erwee and Theunis de Bruyn, who was dropped by David Warner on three, were not out on seven.
Carey, who was playing in his 14th Test, was fantastic, reaching three figures for the first time before Marco Jansen caught and bowled him for 111.
Despite a fractured finger, a struggling Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, both on 10, were not out at the declaration.
After South Africa gave themselves a glimmer of hope with early wickets, including David Warner’s first ball after he resumed on 200, Carey and Green added 117 runs to the misery.
After Warner’s incredible unbeaten double century in his 100th Test on day two in oppressive heat, Australia resumed on 386-3 with Travis Head on 48 and Carey on 9.
After scoring his third Test double ton, the veteran opener was exhausted and had severe cramps. However, when Head was run out for 51, he returned to the crease and left to a lot of cheering.
Before the show started, he admitted to hosting Fox that he had a “rough night’s sleep.”
He added, “I probably woke up six or seven times.” An Anrich Nortje yorker bowled Australia’s first ball as they lost three wickets for five runs.
Green is out of bowling. Temperatures on Tuesday were much lower than the 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) mark, and the weather was overcast and humid, which was generally good for bowlers.
What’s more, the consistently risky Anrich Nortje took advantage of Head in the third prior to catching a baffled Warner’s next ball.
The hat trick delivery was stopped by Pat Cummins, but he didn’t last long.
When South Africa successfully reviewed a caught behind decision off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling that was initially denied by the umpire, the Australian skipper fell to the third ball he faced.
Nathan Lyon joined Carey and they stabilized the ship.
Before holing out to Khaya Zondo off Lungi Ngidi, Lyon made an entertaining 25.
In front of the play, Green, who took 5-27 in South Africa’s most memorable innings, was managed out of bowling again in Melbourne – – and the third Sydney Test – – with a broken finger, yet he courageously emerged to bat.
After a sluggish start, he started playing his shots as an admirable backup to Carey, who counterattacked after the first wicket fell to keep Australia ahead.
After Brad Haddin in 2013, Carey became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in a Test match, and Rod Marsh was only the second Australian to do so at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.