Steve Smith falls but Australia rolls on to lead South Africa by 364 runs

Steve Smith's failure did nothing to slow Australia's march toward expected victory in the first test against South Africa as the tourists built an imposing lead of 364 runs by tea on the third day on Saturday. Smith was out for 38 lbw to part-time spin bowler Dean Elgar, the first time in six test innings that the Australia captain hasn't passed 50. But 53 from opener Cameron Bancroft, and contributions from Smith, David Warner (28) and Shaun Marsh (25 not out) ensured Australia moved on to 175-6 in its second innings.

With a lead of 189 from the first innings, Australia was dictating the pace out in the middle despite a regular flow of wickets; three for spinner Keshav Maharaja and two for pacer Kagiso Rabada to go with Elgar's surprise strike. Elgar, who had bowled six overs in tests in the last two years, got the No. 1-ranked test batsman with the fourth ball he delivered. It straightened enough and hit Smith on the pad in front as he tried to sweep. Smith tried, also, to survive through a decision review and failed.

Australia did lose Warner and Usman Khawaja (6) reasonably early at Kingsmead but that didn't affect the tourists' rapid run rate before lunch — they were going at over four an over in the first session — as they built a dominant position in the series opener. Bancroft's half-century ended a run of poor form when he went seven innings without a 50. He got to his half-century with a hook for four off quick bowler Morne Morkel, one of 10 fours for him before he came down the track to spinner Maharaj and was stumped just a few minutes before the lunch break.

Bancroft and Warner put together a 56-run opening stand, playing with positive intent before Warner played a mistimed pull to substitute fielder Wiaan Mulder off Rabada. Maharaj had Khawaja caught off the glove for the first of his three wickets. After Smith went, Mitchell Marsh fell to Rabada via Hashim Amla's 100th catch in test cricket. Tim Paine was out to Maharaj to end the session.

Australia is in a winning position in Durban after making 351 all out batting first and then dismissing South Africa for 162 in its first innings, with left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Starc taking 5-34. That gave the Aussies their large first-innings lead and the early momentum in the first four-test series played between the countries since 1970.