South Africa vs Australia 2018: 2nd Test, day 3, 5 things we learnt from the day
An eye-catching 22nd century by AB de Villiers and a lightning spell of fast bowling from Kagiso Rabada meant that South Africa tightened their grip on the second Test on day 3 at Port Elizabeth.
De Villiers and Vernon Philander fought to take South Africa to a good lead and Keshav Maharaj joined in as they led by 139 runs when Lungi Ngidi was run-out to leave De Villiers stranded.
Rabada then turned on the heat with a terrific opening spell that accounted for David Warner and Keshav Maharaj dismissed his bunny, Steven Smith, to push Australia back. Although Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh resuscitated a broken innings, Rabada burst through late in the day to dismiss Khawaja and tilt the game firmly in South Africa's direction.
#5 De Villiers stamps down class with stunning ton
AB de Villiers showed how much Test cricket had missed him for a year as marched strongly against Australia's incisive bowling attack and punished them stroke by stroke. None of the bowlers were spared as he found an able ally in Vernon Philander, and later Keshav Maharaj. He smashed his way to a valiant ton as Australia looked on helplessly.
The visitors had come out on day 3 expecting to clean up the Proteas for a below-par lead but De Villiers squashed all such beliefs with some extravagant stroke play. He compiled his 22nd Test hundred, and probably his best ever, as he continued to be Australia's nemesis in Test cricket. He has six tons against them now in this format, the most by any South African.