Morkel reaches 300 wickets as game twists and turns

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The first two days of the third Test between South Africa and Australia have been a study in contrasts. Day one would have delighted the traditionalist, Dean Elgar’s fight and Pat Cummins’ probe in particular, as the two sides grappled for the advantage by playing what some would call Proper Test Match Cricket.

Day two on the other hand proceeded at a dramatic pace, at times approaching frenzy, as the pendulum swung back and forth at some velocity before ending slightly on South Africa’s side, Australia closing the day at 245/9, 66 runs behind. Both were compelling to watch, as this series refuses to imply which direction it will end up heading in.

Australia's approach can be summed up by the innings of two men, David Warner and Nathan Lyon. Even by his own standards, Warner hared out of the blocks, and his 14-ball stay warrants a blow-by-blow account. The first blow was delivered by Kagiso Rabada, who struck him flush on the arm with a mean bouncer. The Australian retorted with an open-faced square drive, a prelude to a six-ball stretch which yielded 22 runs – four boundaries scythed through the in-field and a six hooked over fine leg – and culminated in his dismissal, when Rabada seared one in off the seam to send the off-stump cartwheeling.

Lyon’s knock was a rollicking 38-ball 47, a tail-end slog perhaps, but a glorious one as the off-spinner relied on his hand-eye and flayed his way to his highest Test score. They were chancy runs – Lyon was twice given a life, when on 5 by Philander and on 32 by de Villiers – but important runs nonetheless, helping Australia recover from 175/8.

Both those chances were created by Morne Morkel, who eventually claimed Lyon, caught brilliantly by Dean Elgar who ran back and grabbed one over his head. Morkel finished with four for the day, the third of which was his 300th in Test matches. He has already confirmed he will retire at the end of the series, and the milestone was just reward for years of service.

The dismissal which brought the landmark was perhaps the most profligate of the day as Shaun Marsh swished wildly at a wide ball and edged behind. Khawaja too who hooked Morkel straight to fine leg might reflect on his choice of shot. Less culpable were Steve Smith, who was worked over by the short ball and fended to gully, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins, who edged reverse-swinging balls which forced them to play, and Cameron Bancroft, pinned in front by a Philander nip-backer having compiled his best innings for Australia – a brisk but secure 77.

Earlier, South Africa had scrapped their way to 311 all out, Elgar extending his overnight ton to a monumental unbeaten 141, in the process becoming just the second batsman after Desmond Haynes to carry his bat three times in Test cricket. His innings comprised 284 balls, took 14 minutes over seven hours, proving that the old-fashioned virtue of crease occupation still has a place in the modern game, something which, if you’d just watched Australia’s innings, you might think had gone completely out of style.