South Africa in dire straits

Melbourne, Dec. 29: Dean Elgar's weary South Africa side faces a difficult task to avoid a big defeat in the second test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with two days of play remaining.

South Africa reached 15-1 in its second innings at stumps Wednesday, still requiring 371 more runs to make Australia bat again. 

Given that South Africa has failed to score 200 in its previous three innings in this series, and its leading batsman and captain Elgar is already back in the sheds, the odds are against the touring team.

Only seven overs were bowled in the evening session before rain interrupted play, sparing South Africa further misery on day three.

South Africa had lost Elgar for a duck in the second over as rival captain Pat Cummins struck a key blow, removing the left-hander caught behind off the glove.

Theunis de Bruyn, dropped at slip on three, is not out on six with Sarel Erwee on seven.

Resuming Wednesday on 386-3, Australia declared at tea on 575-8 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 189.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored his maiden test century for Australia, hitting 13 boundaries in his tally of 111. Carey and Cameron Green (51 not out), who showed admirable composure against the short ball despite nursing a broken finger, shared a century stand for the eighth wicket.

Earlier, South Africa started strongly Wednesday as fiery pace bowler Anders Nortje (3-92) struck twice in the third over of the day, bowling Travis Head (51) and David Warner (200) in consecutive deliveries.

Warner, who had retired hurt with leg cramps Tuesday, returned at the fall of the fourth wicket but lasted only one delivery, playing all around a full toss which crashed onto his stumps via his back pad at 395-5.

Australia leads the three-match series 1-0 and can clinch the series with victory in Melbourne, although the home side's bowling attack has been weakened by injury.

Medium-pacer Green is unlikely to bowl again in the match because of a broken finger and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is nursing a finger-tendon injury on his bowling hand which could result in him playing a limited role in South Africa's second innings. Starc has taken 0-13 off four overs.

Green, who claimed a career-best 5-27 in South Africa's first innings, has been ruled out for the third test in Sydney beginning Jan. 4.

Kiwis on top

Kane Williamson's first international century for almost two years put New Zealand on top in the first cricket test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Williamson, who stepped down from the captaincy in his team's first test tour to Pakistan in 20 years, capitalized on two missed stumpings to hit an unbeaten 105 as the Black Caps reached 440-6 at stumps on the third day, a lead of two runs.

Tom Latham also made his 13th test century, becoming the first New Zealand opener to achieve the feat, and Devon Conway hit 92 as the visitors dominated the spinners on a slow turning wicket.

Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed picked up 3-143 and left-arm slow bowler Nauman Ali took 2-137 but neither could wrestle control away from the batters.

Wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, making a test comeback after four years, fumbled stumping opportunities when Williamson was on 15 and 21, while the former skipper also overturned an lbw ruling against Abrar through a television referral.

It was Williamson's first international century since his 238 against Pakistan in Hamilton in January 2021.

Tom Blundell (47) and Daryl Mitchell (42) played useful knocks and shared half-century stands with Williamson against some scrappy Pakistan fielding.