Australia started the second session of the third day with seven losses, but if South Africa thought their first innings woes were over, they would be in for a nasty shock. Alex Carey scored his first Test century, contributing 117 for the eighth wicket accompanied by an injured Cameron Green before the hosts declared a lead of 386 at 575/8.
The MCG field continued to play flat, with the pair of Carey and Green making sure they effectively knocked the visitors out of the game. Dean Elgar started the Post Lukung period by bowling the spinner Keshab Maharaj from one end and the sailors tried their luck in turn from the other end, starting with Kagiso Labada. Carey was keen to drive in the first session and scored the majority of his runs just outside the turnstiles in the second. Maharaj was swept backwards while short balls were randomly pulled or sometimes sliced by quicks.
Ultimately, it was a push drive with three additional coverages that brought Carey to his first Test Century.He rode his Marsh, followed by Boxing on his day in his Test where he scored 100 points. became his second Australian goalkeeper to do so. He was eventually dismissed for 111 after attempting a half-hearted slow move and then throwing the ball back to Marco Jansen for an easy return catch. Yet another reason why the MCG crowd applauded early on as Green fought his way to the half-century 170-ball despite being ruled out of the next Test after breaking a finger yesterday.
No. 10 Mitchell Starc drew 6 from Anrich Nortje and carried another short ball to his helmet. Due to the mandatory concussion test, this temporarily stopped play and captain Pat Cummins had enough and declared an innings over to give his opponents a mountain to climb.
Australia 575/8 decl. (David Warner 200, Alex Carey 111; Anrich Nortje 3-92) lead South Africa 189 by 386 runs.