Hobart Test: Quinton de Kock slams ton as South Africa tighten grip

Hobart, Nov 14: Quinton de Kock plundered a century Monday (Nov 14) as South Africa frustrated Australia to tighten their grip on the second Test as the sun emerged on the third day in Hobart.

Match scorecard

After Sunday's second day was washed out, the Australians were hunting for early wickets to put a brake on the Proteas after they were routed for a record low total of 85 on Saturday (Nov 12).

But de Kock and Temba Bavuma batted South Africa into a position of strength with a century stand for the sixth wicket and a 203-run lead to put even more pressure on Steve Smith's embattled team.

Wicketkeeper de Kock was bowled by Josh Hazlewood just before lunch for 104 -- his second Test hundred -- off 143 balls with 17 boundaries. His stand of 144 with Temba Bavuma was the highest by a visiting team in Hobart for the sixth wicket.

At lunch, the Proteas were 288 for six with Bavuma unbeaten on 74 and Vernon Philander on three. De Kock became only the fourth South African to register 50 or more in five consecutive Tests after he swept spinner Nathan Lyon for four over wide mid-on.

He has proved a thorn for Australia in this series following scores of 84 and 64 in the first Test victory in Perth. Bavuma, who raised his fifth Test half-century with an edge off Hazlewood through the gully, had his second Test century in sight.

AFP