Hashim Amla ton takes South Africa to 320/3

Hashim Amla started the third day of the third Test against Australia on 99 not out and ended the first session on 149 not out as South Africa took an imposing lead of 382. The Proteas took lunch at 320 for three with Amla and AB de Villiers (18 not out) at the crease.



The Australians toiled and took the solitary wicket of Jacques Kallis (37) in the morning. The big all-rounder was looking good after struggling with a pulled hamstring throughout the second Test and was 59 runs short of the 13,000 Test runs when he tried to pull Mitchell Starc's (two for 103) bouncer. He was to get a healthy top edge that carried to the other Mitchell - Johnson - at fine leg.

The Australians bowled a little better than they did in the final session of day two when Amla and Graeme Smith (84) put up a 178-run stand and scored 268 runs in the session at a rate higher than six runs an over. The hosts got the run rate down to below five per over but that didn't deny South Africa the chance to take total control of the deciding Test.

Brief Score: South Africa 225 and 320 for 3 (Hashim Amla 149*, Graeme Smith 84; Mitchell Starc 2 for 103) lead Australia 163 (Matthew Wade 68; Dale Steyn 4 for 40, Robin Peterson 3 for 44, Vernon Philander 2 for 55) by 382 runs