South Africa on top, pushing for series-clinching win vs Australia

Hobart, 14 November (CRICKETNMORE):  Australia scored 121/2 in their second innings, trailing by 120 runs, after bowling out South Africa for 326 on the third day of the second cricket Test at the Bellerive Oval here on Monday.

Usman Khawaja (56) and skipper Steven Smith (18) were at the crease when the umpires uprooted the stumps at the end of the day's play.

For South Africa, pacer Kyle Abbott took two wickets for 55 runs.

Resuming at 171/5, stumper Quinton de Kock (104) slammed a brilliant century to take the visitors out of trouble before pacer Josh Hazlewood (6/89) ran through the lower order to restrict the South Africans to 326.

Apart from de Kock, Vernon Philander contributed a crucial 32 runs.

Brief score:

Australia 85 and 121/2 (Khawaja 56 not out) trail South Africa 326 (De Kock 104, Bavuma 74, Hazlewood 6-89, Mitchell Starc 3-79) by 120 runs.