Carey builds Australia’s vast lead after Nortje’s rapid burst

Cricket

Lunch Australia 479 for 7 (Carey 62*, Green 14*) lead South Africa 189 by 290 runs

Australia took a 290-run lead at the MCG after scoring 93 runs in 21 overs in a shortened morning session led by a free-flowing Alex Carey. Play started 15 minutes later than scheduled after an early shower and the cloud cover hung around. Conditions were much cooler than they were on a scorching second day but the pitch remained good for batting, with even bounce and not much assistance from overhead.
South Africa sparked into life briefly at the start of the session when they took three wickets for five runs in six balls. After Travis Head reached a 54-ball 50 with a pull, Anrich Nortje turned up the heat. His next delivery was full and straight and went straight through Head to take out off stump. South Africa’s celebrations might have been shortlived because as Head left, David Warner, who retired hurt with cramp after reaching 200, returned for more.

He danced to the crease but was met by a Nortje ball that zoned in on leg stump, beat the flick and bowled him. Warner left to a standing ovation.

Pat Cummins found the boundary when he steered a wide Nortje ball through point and then nicked off against Kagiso Rabada. South Africa were convinced of the edge but needed to confirm it on review.

With Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green both carrying finger injuries and Australia all but certain to have a depleted attack, they opted to keep batting and Nathan Lyon cashed in. He edged Rabada over the slips, then whipped him through the square leg and hooked him over fine leg to push the lead towards 250. Lyon’s cameo ended when he pulled Lungi Ngidi in the air to Khaya Zondo at square leg.

Green, fractured finger and all, then arrived at the crease to allow Carey to keep going. He leaned into a drive off Marco Jansen’s first ball and then took three successive fours off Ngidi. The last of those, which he hit straight down the ground, brought up his fifty, off 66 balls.

At the other end, Green stuck to a defensive game plan and appeared fairly comfortable. The South African attack had spent 112 overs in the field and ended the morning looking much flatter than when they began.

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