Paine persists to keep Proteas at bay

Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine has again proven his value with the bat with a vital rearguard knock late on day two of the third Test in Cape Town.

Paine has scored just a single half-century since his shock recall to the Test team for the Magellan Ashes in November, but digging a little deeper reveals the calming – and potentially game-changing – influence he offers with willow in hand.

The current knock at Newlands that sees him 33 not out from 77 balls represents the eighth time in 11 innings that Paine has spent more than hour out in the middle, with his ‘worst’ performance in that timespan coming in the second innings in Durban when he lasted 37 minutes for 14 runs.

Of the eight Tests Paine has played since the start of the Australian summer, five of those matches have featured a 50-run partnership involving the keeper in the lower order.

The gloveman’s ability to guide the tail is something that has not been lost on fielding coach Brad Haddin – a man who memorably made a habit of batting Australia out of trouble during the five-nil Ashes series sweep in 2013-14.

“One of the things he’s done well with his batting, is he’s changed momentum of the game when he’s come in,” Haddin said prior to the third Test.

“He’s batted really well with the tail and, as a wicketkeeper, that’s one of our most important jobs.

“To be able to understand how to bat with the tail – when to put the foot down, when to protect them a little bit and I think that’s the one thing in his game he’s done really well since coming back in.

“It’s not so much the focus on getting big hundreds, it’s about making sure he’s changing the momentum and batting well with that lower order.”

After walking to the crease at 5-150 after the tea break and then losing in-form allrounder Mitch Marsh a short time later, Paine’s knock in the evening session on Friday helped put the brakes on the home side’s charge to a mammoth first-innings lead.

Paine, who coach Darren Lehmann suggests has been the standout Australian batsman of the tour, shared a 66-run partnership with a daring Nathan Lyon (47 off 38) and will resume day three alongside No.11 Josh Hazlewood looking to chip away at the deficit that currently stands at 66 runs.

Fresh off celebrating his 300-wicket milestone in Test cricket, Proteas paceman Morne Morkel admitted the hosts let their dominant grip on the third Test slip in the final session.

“We knew it was important for us to stay on the money and try finish the day strong,” Morkel told media after play.

“It’s sort of disappointing, yesterday we were also in a strong position with the bat and then let it slip a little bit.

“A lead of (66) on this wicket is still fantastic.

“Tomorrow is going to be important, the way we start.

“Hopefully we can get that wicket as soon as possible and then our guys can bat.

“I honestly believe it’s going to be harder on the last couple of days on that sort of wicket.”

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage

of the third Test of the Qantas Tour of South Africa in Cape Town.