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Duminy rues dropped catches

Port Elizabeth - Despite scoring his third century of his career, South African JP Duminy was left disappointed as his side dropped two catches in the final stages of the second day of the second Test against Australia at St George's Park, on Friday.

SA v AUS: As it happened

Australia reached the close of play on 112 for four, 311 runs behind South Africa's first innings total of 423.

Warner was dropped on 43 by AB de Villiers off Morne Morkel's bowling, and then nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was dropped on 12 by Duminy himself in the final over of the day, with Wayne Parnell the bowler.

"It's never easy to drop a catch and deal with that emotion," said Duminy.

"Especially as I was coming off such a high, we did let ourselves down a little bit in the end with two dropped catches.

"But that's the way the game goes, and hopefully we'll catch them tomorrow."

Warner (65) and Lyon (12) were left unbeaten at the crease at the close of play.

Earlier Duminy (123 runs, 231 balls, 14 fours), notched up his first century in nearly two years and managed the difficult pitch well.

"The key to scoring was to stay patient and wait for that bad ball," said Duminy.

"As we didn't lose a wicket in the first session we were always going to get an opportunity to score at some stage."

Duminy, a part-time spinner, said he anticipated bowling his share of overs during the match.

"I'm going to have to play a part with the ball at some stage. I need to hold up and end and try and get a few wickets."

Australian coach Darren Lehmann said the intentions were for his side to bat out the whole of day three.

"The game is moving forward quite quickly, we need to keep them out in the field the whole day tomorrow," Lehmann said.

The Australians opted to use their slow-bowlers as the South African innings drew to a close.

"You don't want to bowl 150 overs in match.

"But once you've bowled that many over you expect the other team to be five or six hundred so we were pleased to restrict them to 400 odd." Lehmann said Australia could have been in much deeper trouble had South Africa taken their chances in the final session.

"It could've been worse if they took a couple of chances. At the end of the day we have to be better.

"We're pleased we got 112 runs."

In the final session, South African bowler Wayne Parnell struck twice in his first over in Test cricket for four years, the left-armer removed Alex Doolan for 8, caught behind by De Villiers. Incoming batsman Shaun Marsh lasted just two balls before he too was caught behind, for a duck, to give Parnell his second wicket. Parnell returned figures of 2/19 in six overs for the day.

Australia, at that point, were left stumbling on 41 for three in reply to South Africa's 423 all out.

Vernon Philander accounted for Aussie captain Michael Clarke caught Dean Elgar for 19 as Australia were left 81 for four.

First to fall for the Aussies was Chris Rogers, out lbw to Philander for five.

South Africa were all out just after tea courtesy centuries from De Villiers (116 runs, 232 balls, 14 fours, one six) and JP Duminy batting first.

Aussie spinner Lyon thrived in the conditions picking up 5/130 from a mammoth 46 overs.

Duminy was out lbw to Lyon straight after tea. The strike completed the five-wicket haul for Lyon.

Before tea, Duminy had shared in a 149 run sixth wicket stand with De Villiers.

"The main focus today was building a big partnership and myself and AB did that. We're pretty happy we did that and we're in a good position as a result," said Duminy.

De Villiers departed for 116 as he chipped the ball straight back to Lyon.

The knock of De Villiers also marked the 12th Test in a row where he passed 50.

Before Duminy notched up three figures, he scored his 1000th Test run as he made it to 77 off the bowling of Peter Siddle in the 127th over.

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