SYDNEY (AP) — Usman Khawaja scored his highest ever Test score, Steve Smith scored a century milestone and Australia went to a dominant 475-4 when rain forced an early end on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa. .
Khawaja hit an unbeaten 195 off 368 balls, with 19 boundaries and a six, and the previous Thursday shared an epic 209-run partnership with Steve Smith, who made his 30th Test century and also became the fourth-most run-scorer. Australia’s tallest in the tests to the front. from the home fans of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Marnus Labuschagne (79) and Travis Head (70) scored a half-century as Australia overpowered a placid South African attack and put themselves in a strong position to force a result in a game that has seen frequent bad lights and rain delays.
Khawaja collected his third consecutive SCG hundred before lunch on Thursday and then surpassed his previous highest score of 174, against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2015, to move closer to his first double century.
Khawaja was given a life at 119 when he offered up a great shin-high chance that Anrich Nortje missed on Gully after losing sight of the ball.
Earlier, Smith made 104 to join former Australia opening batsman Matt Hayden in 30 Test centuries. Only Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32) have more among Australian male Test players.
It was Smith’s fourth century on home soil and he came from 190 balls, hitting 11 bounds and two sixes with the former captain receiving a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd of 27,663 SCG.
Smith then hit a simple catch back to Keshav Maharaj (1-108) in what was the only miss in an otherwise flawless four-hour inning.
On the way to his final ton, Smith surpassed Hayden (8625 runs) and Michael Clarke (8643) in career runs and is now Australia’s fourth Test run scorer with 8647 runs, behind Ponting (13378), Allan Border (11,174) and Waugh (10,927). Smith is averaging over 60 runs per inning in his 92 Tests.
After twin centuries in a triumphant return to try cricket against England last year, Khawaja had earlier completed his 206-ball 13th hundred, with nine caps as he and Smith serenely racked up runs after resuming the day with a mark of 147. -2.
Khawaja made 137 and 101 not against England in the Test here last year to firmly re-establish himself in Australia’s batting line-up after being dropped during the 2019 Ashes series.
Khawaja and Head combined for a spirited 112-run partnership before Head holed out deep to Rabada (1-119).
Shortly after the game began on Wednesday, team Australia management reported that batsman Matt Renshaw, on the team for the injured Cameron Green, had reported feeling unwell shortly before the game and had subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. , but would still participate in the match. match.
Renshaw, in his first trial since 2018, was separated from the rest of his teammates and moved to another locker room at the SCG. He hit as expected at No. 6 and was five not out at the end of the day’s game.
International Cricket Council regulations state that Renshaw may play in the match provided he is feeling well enough, with the option of a similar substitute if he is unable to play.
Australia have already won the series after two crushing defeats in the first two tests in Brisbane and Melbourne.
A victory for Australia in this third test would confirm their place in the world test championship final to be played at Lord’s in England in June this year.
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