Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Josh Inglis’ century has helped Australia inch towards a crucial three-figure lead over South Africa at lunch on day three in Cape Town.
On a morning where Inglis’ dismissal for 102 made him one of four wickets to fall, the tourists still took their lead to 82 runs at 8-411.
The size of Australia’s lead could well prove crucial in this series-deciding third Test, with the wicket showing signs of turn and spinner Simon Harmer taking 4-104.
Inglis enjoyed a red-letter day with his second Test century, bringing it up when he reverse-swept Harmer to the boundary.
But when he was caught behind later in the same over and a 185-run stand with Alex Carey was ended, the Proteas were suddenly back in the contest.
Carey edged Harmer to slip four overs later on 80, before Pat Cummins was trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada as part of a mini collapse of 3-10.
But Cooper Connolly helped add another 31 from that point, firstly with the support of Mitchell Starc (11) and Nathan Lyon (1no).
Playing in just his second Test, the No.7 flayed one ball away over backward point for four off Gerald Coetzee.
The shot of the day also came off the right armer, when he drove a low full toss for four through the covers shortly before the break.
It came after Inglis had resumed at 85 not out on Thursday and showed no sign of nerves on his way to a second Test century.
After being called in for Steve Smith at the last minute on day one, Inglis and Carey steadied the ship for Australia after back-to-back wickets left them 4-185 in reply to the Proteas’ 329.
He was patient through the early stages of his innings on Wednesday, before the West Australian went through the gears nicely as he swept and cut well.
The century made Inglis the first Australian male to have multiple hundreds in all three formats, having previously made his name in the white-ball game.
At the point Inglis reached his century, South Africa had shown signs of languishing in the field after a number of misfields.
But when the 31-year-old edged Harmer behind on 102, the Proteas were awake again and the Test back alive.
