Australia on top but Morkel cuts through tail

Australia were reduced to 213 for nine in their second innings after a fiery spell of fast bowling by South Africa's Morne Morkel but the tourist lead by 402 runs after bad light ended play early on day three of the first Test match Saturday. Morkel (3-42), who has announced he will retire from all international cricket after the four-match series, produced some excellent deliveries on a slow wicket at Kingsmead as he took his tally of Test wickets to 297. But Australia remain in control of the game with what could already be a match-winning lead and if they choose to resume batting on the fourth morning they will see bowlers Pat Cummins (17) and Josh Hazlewood (four) look to build a further advantage.

That's stumps on day three with Australia holding a lead of 402 runs: https://t.co/OCM4Rg9T0K #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/AifqirVvhT

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 3, 2018

The highest previous successful fourth-innings chase in Tests in Durban was 340 for five by South Africa against Australia in 2002. The tourist began their second innings at the start of the third day as openers Cameron Bancroft (53) and David Warner (28) put on 56 for the first wicket before the latter miscued a pull off Kagiso Rabada (2-28) to substitute fielder Wiaan Mulder at mid-on. Usman Khawaja (six) never looked settled and was caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock having gloved a ball from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (3-93), before innings top-scorer Bancroft fell five balls before lunch, walking past a delivery from Keshav Maharaj to be stumped.

Day three finishes with Australia 213/9, leading by 402 runs. Three wickets for Morne Morkel, who needs just three more to reach 300 in Tests! #SAvAUSScorecard: https://t.co/VjXpm8SmSG pic.twitter.com/QahlDMlADE

— ICC (@ICC) March 3, 2018

The prize wicket of Australia captain Steve Smith (38) was claimed by the part-time left-arm spin of Dean Elgar, before Rabada had first innings top-scorer Mitchell Marsh caught by Hashim Amla at first slip. It was Amla's 100th Test catch and he joins Jacques Kallis (200) and Graeme Smith (169) as only the third South African to reach that mark. A fired-up Morkel then returned to the attack to remove Shaun Marsh (33), Mitchell Starc (seven) and Nathan Lyon (two).BRIEF SCOREAustralia 351 & 213/9 in 71.4 overs (Bancroft 53, Morkel 3/42) lead South Africa 162 by 402 runs