Morkel reaches 300; sets up Proteas for first innings lead

MORNE MORKEL led a determined Standard Bank Proteas bowling performance that saw them regain the initiative and set themselves up for a potential first innings lead on the second day of the third Sunfoil Test match at PPC Newlands on Friday. Morkel’s return of 4/87 in 20 overs that included his 300th Test match wicket was well supported by Kagiso Rabada (3/81 in 19) and the ever economical Vernon Philander (2/26 in 15) as Australia reached the close on 245/9, still trailing the Proteas by 66 runs on the first innings.
A remarkable feature of the day was the two ninth-wicket partnerships that made a considerable impact on the play. Rabada first helped Dean Elgar put on 50 for the Proteas ninth wicket that enabled them to stretch the overnight 266/8 to a far more respectable 311 all out. In addition to the runs scored the partnership that took the first hour out of the day’s play filled an important tactical role as it meant that the Proteas only had to bowl for an hour before lunch and could then come out refreshed for a second crack straight after lunch. This was undoubtedly a key factor in the dismissal of Steve Smith shortly after the interval. he Proteas worked steadily through the Australian order, taking 2 wickets in the short first session, 3 in the second and a further 4 in the final one as Cameron Bancroft (77 off 103 balls, 13 fours) scored the visitors’ only half-century.
The Proteas look set for a lead well into three figures until Australia produced their own ninth wicket partnership of 66 that included a career best 47 off 38 balls (8 fours) by Nathan Lyon in support of Tim Paine. It took the deficit down to a much more manageable figure before Lyon departed courtesy of a brilliant catch in the covers by Elgar. Elgar had earlier carried his bat for 141 (284 balls, 20 fours and a six) to join the West Indies Great, Desmond Haynes, as the only player to do this on three occasions. Remarkably, Elgar has done two of them in his last four Test matches. On the Australian side there was a world best for Smith who provided the 11th instance of a fielder taking 5 catches in a Test match innings. The only other Australian to have done this achievement is Vic Richardson who captained the Australians on their South African tour in 1935/36 when he did it.
The Sunfoil Education Trust (SET) benefited to the tune of R125 000 from the number of fours and sixes hit and wickets taken by the two sides in the day’s play, bringing the cumulative series total to date to R604 500.