Australia dominate day-night Test again with seven-wicket win

A new-look Australian side have stopped the rot at Adelaide Oval, snapping a five-Test losing streak with a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the day- night clash.

South Africa had already secured the three-match series by winning the first two tests in Perth and Hobart but went down by seven wickets in their first pink-ball test on Sunday.

“A little bit bittersweet, it was a disappointing series, we were outplayed in the first two Test matches by South Africa, but I’m really proud of the way that the team came back in this game”.

Lehmann said the door wasn’t closed for the players who were dropped, but added that he’d like to keep the new group together – if that is possible, with varying playing conditions and peaks and troughs in form.

“I’m very pleased”, Smith said.

Faf du Plessis reckons he’ll forget about the booing, eventually, and his enduring memories of the Australian tour will be about South Africa’s against-the-odds series win. In this, Smith singled out another debutant in Peter Handscomb for snaffling Faf du Plessis in the gully on the third evening.

“If you can play one Test with pink balls (each series), I think it adds something different to Test cricket”. Take the last round of the Shield where Renshaw sealed his baggy green with a dogged century before making 50 at close to a run a ball in the second innings when quick runs were required.

Smith will next lead the test side out against Pakistan in another day-night match at the Gabba on December 15 and admitted he would retain some unhappy memories of the South Africa series.

Ten wickets fell after Australia resumed at 307-6 on Saturday, starting with Usman Khawaja’s dismissal for 145.

“He got probably one of the better hundreds that I have seen him play … unfortunately, it didn’t spur him on in the second innings. It was an incredible series and to do it three times in a row is wonderful”, Du Plessis said on Sunday night.

Mitchell Starc took 4-80 as South Africa was bowled out for 250, the last four wickets falling for 56.

Philander was one of Starc’s four victims when he was leg before wicket for 17, losing a review in the process, while Kagiso Rabada lasted just nine balls before he edged a leg-side delivery from Hazlewood to a diving Matthew Wade. We came here to win the series and fortunately for us that was in Hobart.

“But we got in trouble for that as well”.

Amla advanced to 45 before nicking Josh Hazlewood behind, leaving JP Duminy to partner Stephen Cook as the pair slowly took South Africa to parity, before the former played across a straight ball from Lyon and lost his off-bail. “It’s hardest when you’re under pressure to score a big innings like that”.

Skipper Steven Smith (40) shared a 61-run third-wicket stand with Renshaw but was caught behind two runs shy of victory, leaving it to the rookies to get the hosts home.

Philander was recognised for his contributions with both bat and ball in the series, but it was his leadership with the ball in the absence of Dale Steyn that was the highlight.