Staff Reporter.
Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey brought up his maiden test century as Australia declared at the stroke of tea for 575-8 on day three of the second test against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Resuming after lunch on 479-7 at an overcast MCG, allrounder Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc saw the hosts to a commanding 386-run lead.
Carey became the second Australian keeper to score a century at the MCG as he brought up his maiden ton off just 133 balls.
Carey and Green put on a 112-run partnership before allrounder Marco Jansen got the breakthrough.
Carey top-edged a short delivery from Jansen and was subsequently caught by the bowler and had to depart for a well-played 111 off 149 balls (hitting 13 fours).
Meanwhile, Green continued to pile on the runs as he brought up his sixth test half-century.
Green was effectively ruled out of the Sydney test after he fractured his finger on Day 2, and the allrounder will not bowl again in Melbourne.
The Proteas picked up four wickets in the morning session, and it resulted in a brief collapse, which saw three wickets fall in six balls.
Travis Head was the first wicket to fall of the day as he was bowled by a full delivery from Anrich Nortje for 51 off 55 balls (hitting seven fours and a six).
Double centurion David Warner returned to the middle after retiring hurt on Day 2 and didn’t last long as he was bowled effectively bowled out the first delivery back at the crease.
Warner attempted to work Anrich Nortje off his pads but missed the ball entirely and was bowled out for 200 off 255 balls (hitting 16 fours and two sixes).
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada then sprang into action as he got Pat Cummins to edge behind to the keeper, which was first given not out by on-field umpires.
South Africa sent it upstairs, and replays showed a little noise as skipper Pat Cummins departed for 4.
Green eventually ended unbeaten on 51 off 177 balls (hitting five fours), and Starc remained on 10* as Australia declared, which means the Proteas will bat after tea.
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.