Usman Khawaja century steers Australia to first-innings lead

Woakes, who returns to the side tomorrow after missing the Second Test defeat against India, is adamant England chew on candies for nothing more sinister than an energy boost.

Australia’s Steven Smith, right, celebrates with teammate Usman Khawaja after catching out South Africa’s Dean Elgar for no runs during their cricket test match in Adelaide, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.

On 41 he was in the middle of another stoush with Philander when adrenaline took over, cracking the first three balls of the 84th over to the fence to bring up a maiden Test match half-century and more importantly give Australia the lead.

Du Plessis was booed by the crowd as he walked out to bat, following a ball-tampering incident for which he was found guilty and fined, but cleared to play in the match.

South Africa plays Australia in the Third test at the Adelaide Oval from Thursday.

Khawaja’s magnificent 285-ball 138 not out was the glue in Australia’s innings, the left-hander putting on 137 with Steve Smith until his captain was calamitously run out and then 99 with Handscomb.

Vernon Philander returned the pink Kookaburra to keeper Quinton de Kock, who had ample time to whip off the bails and dismiss Smith for a hard-earned 59.

Khawaja, who had opened in place of Warner, put on 72 with his skipper for the unbroken third wicket to usher the hosts more comfortably to tea.

The serene Khawaja, however, would not be denied, reaching his fifth Test century in 197 balls in a crucial knock for his country after being promoted to opener at the last minute late on day one.

Some 24 hours later, Khawaja showed the same composure against the second new ball, which triggered a collapse of 3-10.

Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson making their debuts.

On the back of this foundation Australia looked set to take the game away from the Proteas as they took the first innings lead with only three wickets down.

Abbott, bowling at a nagging length, prised the key wicket of Warner for 11 in his eighth over, nipping one off the wicket and getting the Australian vice-captain to edge to Elgar for his second catch.

“I think tomorrow’s first session will be key”. “If we can pick up the four wickets and not have a deficit of anything 100 and above, we would be pretty confident in knocking off and posting a score after that”.

“I think Woakesey summed up quite nicely yesterday, it is a bit of a grey area at the moment”, Cook told reporters at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium. Khawaja reviewed the decision more out of hope than anything else, and had actually left the field before television umpire Aleem Dar had finished viewing the footage. This news story is related to Print/167748-Khawaja-ton-powers-Aussies-ahead-of-SA/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.