• Australia 331 for 3
David Warner frustrated the South Africans on the field for a change. After Australia's defeat in Port Elizabeth, Warner, who seldom gives the impression that he thinks long and hard before opening his mouth, cast aspersions about the South Africans' ability to find reverse swing so quickly. In Cape Town on Saturday, at the start of the third and final Test of the series, he opened his shoulders rather more eloquently.
Warner struck 135 from 152 balls, his fourth Test century of the winter, an innings which makes it well-nigh impossible for South Africa to win the series. Australia ended the first day on 331 for three the with captain, Michael Clarke, unbeaten on 92, his first significant contribution with the bat on the tour. To make matters worse for the home side, they were without their prime match-winner from mid-afternoon when Dale Steyn left the field with a hamstring problem.
Warner was irrepressible from the start, highlighting the best way, which is often the Australian way, to react when faced with a contest in the balance. Warner attacked so vigorously on a true Newlands surface that Australia had reached 50 within 10 overs. He received only modest support from Chris Rogers, who was caught at slip off Steyn, and Alex Doolan, who top-edged against Vernon Philander.
There was a captivating passage of play in mid-afternoon when Clarke came to the crease. Morne Morkel peppered him with short deliveries from around the wicket. The ball thudded into Clarke's helmet, body and gloves in swift succession (though not from the same delivery) but the Australian captain survived and by the end he was batting with familiar authority.
Warner was eventually caught behind against the off-spin of JP Duminy but this did not hinder Australia's progress greatly since Steve Smith was soon into his stride. Before the close his reached his fifty with a superb upper-cut for six against Morkel.
Earlier Australia had taken the unusual step of making a couple of team changes. Shane Watson returned to the side in place of Shaun Marsh; more strikingly, Peter Siddle was replaced by the pacier James Pattinson. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 hours ago.
David Warner frustrated the South Africans on the field for a change. After Australia's defeat in Port Elizabeth, Warner, who seldom gives the impression that he thinks long and hard before opening his mouth, cast aspersions about the South Africans' ability to find reverse swing so quickly. In Cape Town on Saturday, at the start of the third and final Test of the series, he opened his shoulders rather more eloquently.
Warner struck 135 from 152 balls, his fourth Test century of the winter, an innings which makes it well-nigh impossible for South Africa to win the series. Australia ended the first day on 331 for three the with captain, Michael Clarke, unbeaten on 92, his first significant contribution with the bat on the tour. To make matters worse for the home side, they were without their prime match-winner from mid-afternoon when Dale Steyn left the field with a hamstring problem.
Warner was irrepressible from the start, highlighting the best way, which is often the Australian way, to react when faced with a contest in the balance. Warner attacked so vigorously on a true Newlands surface that Australia had reached 50 within 10 overs. He received only modest support from Chris Rogers, who was caught at slip off Steyn, and Alex Doolan, who top-edged against Vernon Philander.
There was a captivating passage of play in mid-afternoon when Clarke came to the crease. Morne Morkel peppered him with short deliveries from around the wicket. The ball thudded into Clarke's helmet, body and gloves in swift succession (though not from the same delivery) but the Australian captain survived and by the end he was batting with familiar authority.
Warner was eventually caught behind against the off-spin of JP Duminy but this did not hinder Australia's progress greatly since Steve Smith was soon into his stride. Before the close his reached his fifty with a superb upper-cut for six against Morkel.
Earlier Australia had taken the unusual step of making a couple of team changes. Shane Watson returned to the side in place of Shaun Marsh; more strikingly, Peter Siddle was replaced by the pacier James Pattinson. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 hours ago.