Khawaja bats through day to put Australia on top

Australia 6 for 307 (Khawaja 138*, Smith 59, Handscomb 54, Abbott 3-38) lead South Africa 9 for 259 dec by 48 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details

In his first innings as a Test opener, Usman Khawaja scored Australia’s first hundred of the series, and their first in day-night Test cricket. In his first innings as a Test batsman, Peter Handscomb scored an impressive half-century. In his first innings as a Test batsman, Nic Maddinson was bowled for a duck. Such was the progression for Australia on the second day in Adelaide, where South Africa used the second new ball to fight back late in the evening.

Most of this day belonged to Khawaja, who batted throughout it and by stumps had occupied the crease for 285 deliveries. But the last session was arguably South Africa’s as they claimed three wickets and reached into Australia’s tail, although a frustrating seventh-wicket stand between Khawaja and Mitchell Starc prevented them running through it. At stumps Starc had 16 and Khawaja was on 138, ready to take his innings into its third day.

Khawaja was hoping the tail would help him build a big enough lead to worry South Africa – already the advantage was 48. Australia scored 95 runs in the first session, 100 in the second and 98 in the third and if runs did not come exactly briskly – Kyle Abbott was especially frugal and picked up 3 for 38 from 25 overs – a batsman could rotate the strike and pick off the bad balls once settled, as Khawaja did brilliantly.

Khawaja was so patient that his first 80 deliveries brought only 18 runs. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for Australia that David Warner was …

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