Proteas forge ahead after eventful day at Newlands

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The Proteas found themselves in a strong position to go 2-1 up in the four-match series after an eventful third day of the third Test at Newlands on Saturday.

At stumps the home side were on 238/5, a lead of 294 with six still in the bank and two days of the game remaining.

The series, which has been marred by many off-field dramas already, again saw controversy on Saturday with Australia’s Cameron Bancroft caught on camera in a ball-tampering row.

The Aussie opener appeared to take an object out of his pocket that he was shining the ball with and was immediately spoken to by the umpires.

The sold-out crowd at Newlands also had to contend with a heaver than usual police presence because of a fan that confronted David Warner on day two.

On the field, the Proteas lost first innings centurion Dean Elgar (14) early in the second dig when the left-hander edged Pat Cummins to second slip.

Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla then rebuilt the innings and took the total from 28/1 to 104/1.

Amla though gave it away on 31 when hit a sweet drive in the air to Bancroft at cover to give Cummins his second wicket.

Markram was dropped twice, on 0 and 59, on his way to 84 but fell just before the tea interval when he chipped Mitchell Starc to mid-off.

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis continued his horror run of form with the bat when he was trapped, on review, in front by off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 15.

Temba Bavuma (5) failed for the second time in the game edging Josh Hazlewood to substitute Peter Handscomb at first slip.

All the while AB de Villiers was again looking fluent with the willow and found a willing partner in Quinton de Kock.

De Villiers went to his second fifty of the game while de Kock was entertaining on the side, being especially aggressive against Lyon.

The duo took the hosts to the close with a healthy lead with De Villiers unbeaten on 51 and De Kock 29 not out.

Earlier in the day, the Aussies resumed their innings on 245/9 and lasted another 13 minutes in the morning after Kagiso Rabada took care of Josh Hazlewood (10) with Australia totaling 255, a deficit of 56.

By Nasri Alexander at Newlands

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