CAPE TOWN: Half-centuries by Aiden Markram and A.B. de Villiers helped South Africa to increase their lead to 294 runs in the third Test as Cameron Bancroft and the Australian team came under scrutiny for possible ball tampering on Saturday the latest incident in a hugely contentious series.

Markram was out just before the tea break for 84 and de Villiers was 51 not out as South Africa ended the third day on 238-5 in their second innings.

But there could be more serious trouble ahead for opening batsman Bancroft and Australia after he appeared to be holding a small yellow object in his hand around the time he was working on the ball as a fielder before the tea break.

Slow-motion replays, both on TV and broadcast on the big screen at Newlands, appeared to show Bancroft then putting the small object into his underwear.

English umpires Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong did walk over and talk to Bancroft at the time, and he produced what appeared to be a black sunglasses bag from his right pocket in way of explanation.

The TV replays seemed to suggest the player had put the other small yellow object down his trousers.

Although the umpires appeared satisfied with Bancroft’s explanation on the field at the time and allowed play to continue, match officials could review other footage. Ball tampering is a level two offence in the ICC code of conduct, which could result in a ban for any player found guilty.

Play continued and Bancroft came back on the field after the tea break.

The incident was the latest in a string of contentious moments throughout the series, which have included near-brawls between players off the field, disciplinary hearings and bans for on-field misbehaviour, and an official complaint from the Australian team over what coach Darren Lehmann referred to as “disgraceful” abuse by home fans at Newlands over the first two days of this Test.

Earlier, in action on the field, South Africa wrapped up Australia’s first innings for 255 as Kagiso Rabada took the one remaining Australian wicket. Rabada finished with four wickets, as did Morne Morkel. It gave South Africa a 56-run first-innings lead.

Markram made his 84 from 145 balls. De Villiers hit his 51 off a watchful 103 balls, despite starting his innings with a six.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 311

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings, overnight 245-9):

C. Bancroft lbw b Philander 77
D. Warner b Rabada 30
U. Khawaja c Rabada b Morkel 5
S. Smith c Elgar b Morkel 5
S. Marsh c De Kock b Morkel 26
M. Marsh c De Kock b Philander 5
T. Paine not out 34
P. Cummins c De Villiers b Rabada 4
M. Starc c De Villiers b Rabada 2
N. Lyon c Elgar b Morkel 47
J. Hazlewood c Amla b Rabada 10

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, NB-4) 10

TOTAL (all out, 69.5 overs) 255

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-61, 3-72, 4-150, 5-150, 6-156, 7-173, 8-175, 9-241

BOWLING: Philander 15-5-26-2 (1nb); Rabada 20.5-1-91-4 (3nb); Morkel 21-7-87-4; Maharaj 12-3-35-0; Bavuma 1-0-10-0

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

A. Markram c Cummins b Starc 84
D. Elgar c Smith b Cummins 14
H. Amla c Bancroft b Cummins 31
A. de Villiers not out 51
F. du Plessis lbw b Lyon 20
T. Bavuma c sub b Hazlewood 5
Q. de Kock not out 29

EXTRAS (B-4) 4

TOTAL (for five wkts, 72 overs) 238

FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-104, 3-151, 4-196, 5-201

BOWLING (to-date): Starc 15-2-48-1; Hazlewood 17-4-46-1; Cummins 19-4-47-2; Lyon 16-1-69-1; Smith 1-0-6-0; M. Marsh 4-0-18-0

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2018