Live Cricket Score of South Africa vs Australia, 4th Test, Day 3

Day 3, Stumps:

End of an attritional session with South Africa going into stumps at 134 for 3, leading by 401. Du Plessis has found some form with the bat and remains unbeaten along with Elgar, with their association yielding 40 runs so far.

Lead grows:

Elgar is no no hurry whatsoever, has played 38 dot deliveries in a row. Meanwhile, the hit on the finger hasn't dissuaded du Plessis from playing his shots as he managed two fours in an over off Sayers. South Africa are 124 for 3, leading by 391.

Nasty blow:

A length delivery from Sayers jags back in and hits du Plessis on his fingers. The skipper is in a lot of pain and the physio is out there spraying the injured part, which looks like the index finger.

Second wicket for Cummins:

An excellent delivery from Cummins to account for AB de Villiers. Back of a length with extra bounce and all AB can do is to glove it to the 'keeper. He departs for 6 to leave South Africa at 94 for 3, leading by 361.

Amla falls

Reward for Lyon! There's plenty of turn and bounce on offer and Amla, who tried to nudge one on the backfoot, gets an inside edge and the catch is taken sharply by Mitchell Marsh at leg slip. The lead is approaching 350 now. It will be very interesting to see AB's approach here.

Day 3, Tea:

Elgar and Amla remain unbeaten as South Africa go into Tea at 58 for 1, leading by 325.

Cummins strikes:

A wicket with the tea break approaching. Markram has to depart for 37 after edging a Cummins delivery to Handscomb at second slip. South Africa are 54 for 1, leading by 321.

Markram crosses 1000 Test runs:

He becomes the second fastest South African to reach the landmark and also the second fastest overall in terms of No. of days taken to 1000 since debut. Here's Deepu with the lists:

Fewest days from debut to 1000 Test runs:

166 M Hussey186 A MARKRAM *207 A Voges227 A Strauss244 H Sutcliffe268 B Luckhurst291 M Slater295 K Pietersen299 R Dravid

Fewest innings to 1000 runs for SA:

17 G Smith18 A MARKRAM20 AB de Villiers21 E Barlow22 G Pollock23 F du Plessis/ Q de Kock

South Africa extend lead past 300:

The Australian bowlers have posed questions and have not let the South African openers have it easy. But the scoring rate has been steady nevertheless while Markram and Elgar have kept the bowlers at bay. Two successive fours for Markram off Sayers and the lead has crossed 300.

Elgar vs Lyon:

South Africa off to a steady start and it has taken the Australian captain only three overs before introducing Lyon into the attack. How will Elgar go about it, facing against his nemesis in this series?

Australia bowled out for 221:

Paine departs in his attempt to take on Rabada. A mis-hit carried the ball high in the air towards long-off. Dean Elgar, ran like a hare from mid-off in pursuit of the ball, put in a dive and pulled off a brilliant catch - his 50th in Tests. South Africa pick up a 267-run lead and they will not enforce the follow-on.