Khawaja’s 145 helps Australia to 124-run lead in 3rd test

Du Plessis attempted to drive Starc only to get an outside edge to newcomer Peter Handscomb, who took a brilliant diving two-handed catch in the gully. The first wicket did not fall until 19 overs into the innings, when Australia already had more than half their required runs.

Du Plessis, who was fined his entire fee for the match in Hobart, was cleared to play in the third test in Adelaide and scored a defiant century on Thursday’s opening day after walking to the wicket to a chorus of derision from the crowd.

Although none had outstanding matches in the seven-wicket victory in Adelaide, which Australia wrapped up with a day to spare on Sunday, Smith said they had made a difference. Khawaja was adjudged Man of the Match award, while Proteas pacer Vernon Philander bagged Man of the Series award.

Debutant Peter Handscomb hit the winning runs, with fellow new-boy Matt Renshaw at the other end to seal the seven wicket win in Adelaide.

It was a slight drop from the corresponding session a year ago when first pink-ball Test between Australia and New Zealand in November hit 1.05 million viewers on day one.

However Australia regrouped, with Starc adding a few useful blows en route to a seventh Test half-century, pushing the lead up to 98 before falling for 53. The fullish ball struck the wicketkeeper-batsman low on the pad but was given not out by the on-field umpire.

Australia’s victory saw off the threat of South Africa walking away with an unprecedented series whitewash in Australia.

Stephen Cook was holding the South African second innings together in his sixth test with an unbeaten 81 from 199 balls, only able to watch as Temba Bavuma (21) and night-watchman Kyle Abbott (0) succumbed late to Lyon’s offspin.

The third session WACA Test averaged 749,000 across four nights.

Steve Smith speaks at a news conference.

Asked how he would remember the series after all the furore surrounding the ball tampering verdict, which he has appealed, du Plessis was clear.

Cook was denied the chance to carry his bat as he was bowled by another inswinger from Starc, who took four for 80 from 23.2 overs, to leave Australia with a small victory target.

The home side celebrated with the debutant as if they had won the match, an indication of the importance they placed on the wicket of Du Plessis, who contributed an unbeaten 118 to South Africa’s first innings 259-9 declared.

While the success of the overhaul of the batting line-up remains largely moot ahead of the visit of Pakistan, the strength of Australian pace bowling is not in doubt.

But de Kock (5) was unable to produce the kind of innings-reviving knock he played in the first two tests and was out in the fifth over Sunday, adjudged lbw to a straight ball from Jackson Bird after the Australians reviewed the initial not out decision.