Australia lead South Africa by 139 runs after Smith's four catches in Durban
Australia were 33-0 in their second innings, leading South Africa by 139 runs, when bad light stopped play on day three of the first Test in Durban.
Key facts
- Australia were 33-0 in their second innings, leading South Africa by 139 runs when bad light stopped play, The Guardian reported.
- South Africa were bowled out for 284 in reply to Australia's 390, according to The Guardian.
- ABC Australia reported Steve Smith took four catches, moving him to the top of the all-time Test catching list; The Guardian reported he has 223 catches.
- The Guardian reported Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are the only quartet in Test history with 300 wickets each.
- ABC Australia reported bad light stopped play for the third day running.
Australia were 33 without loss in their second innings, leading South Africa by 139 runs, when bad light stopped play on day three of the first Test in Durban, The Guardian reported. South Africa had been bowled out for 284 in reply to Australia's first-innings 390. ABC Australia reported bad light stopped play early for the third day running, with Nic Maddinson and Travis Head extending the lead to 139.
ABC Australia reported Steve Smith took four catches in the field, which it said moved him to the top of the all-time list for Test catches. The Guardian reported Smith has 223 Test catches, 150 of them off the current bowling quartet, and that he and Joe Root will contest the top of the list for as long as both play. ABC Australia reported Marnus Labuschagne shouted "Oh my God, Smudge" after Smith's third catch of the day, a diving effort to dismiss Kyle Verreynne off Nathan Lyon.
The Guardian reported Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon are the only quartet in Test history to take the field with 300 wickets each, and that their 38 Tests together as a group beats the previous record. It reported the four bowlers took nine wickets on day three as South Africa were bowled out. At the 31st over, The Guardian listed figures of Cummins one for 18, Lyon one for 14, Starc one for 37 and Hazlewood one for 35.
According to The Guardian, Starc dismissed Aiden Markram for 37, Temba Bavuma was caught at slip reverse-sweeping Lyon, and David Bedingham fell for 49 to Cummins. It reported a 55-run stand between Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs ended when Cummins dismissed both with bouncers, each out in the 30s. A Guardian photo caption said Cummins took three wickets in the innings, and The Guardian reported Hazlewood dismissed Ryan Rickelton the previous evening.
The outlets emphasised different aspects of the day. ABC Australia said Australia's most formidable obstacle on the path to victory is now time, and said South Africa "simply lost its head" against Australia's bowling. The Guardian focused on the record held by Australia's four frontline bowlers.
Context
The Guardian reported that the four bowlers' 300-wicket achievement began in Mackay two months before this match. ABC Australia reported bad light prematurely stopped play on each of the first three days in Durban.
How outlets headlined it
How this was made
Compiled by our AI newsroom from 2 independent outlets, checked by a separate AI editor against the sources. Only claims found in the sources are reported. Spot an error? Every source is linked below.
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