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Cape Town - Half centuries from both Dean Elgar and JP Duminy ensured that the start of Day 3 of the first Test match against Australia at the WACA ground in Perth could not have gone any better for South Africa.
LIVE: Australia v Proteas from the WACA in Perth
The Proteas, who started the day with a 102 run lead over their rivals, went into lunch having pushed their advantage to 181 runs as they finished the session on 183/2 with Elgar (69*) and Duminy (74*) both looking very composed at the wicket.
South Africa will want to bat for as long as they can with so much time left in the Test match. They will also want to take advantage of a sweltering day in Perth to put even more pressure on the Australian bowling line-up. Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid thirties during the early afternoon.
It was Duminy who was the more fluent of the batsmen, playing all around the wicket as he continued to look in very good touch. Elgar was more willing to grind out his runs and looks set to be the rock on which the Proteas will build their second innings.
With the loss of Dale Steyn to a fractured shoulder, the Proteas will want to scores as many runs as possible, especially as they only now have a three man attack with Duminy's part-time off-spinners in support.
