Du Plessis stands tall as Australia win Day 1 honours of Adelaide Test

Adelaide [Australia], Nov. 24 (ANI): Faf du Plessis, who has been in the news for the recent 'mintgate' row, on Thursday scored a brilliant hundred to come to rescue of South Africa on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia here at the Adelaide Oval. On a day which was dominated by Aussie quicks, Du Plessis remained not out on 118 runs off 167 balls as the visitors declared their first innings on 259 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Being asked to ball, Australian pacer Hosh Hazlewood prospered with the pink ball, and took 4 for 68 to wreak havoc on the Proteas batting. He got good support from Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird who both took two-two wickets each. For South Africa, apart from Du Plessis and opener Stephen Cook, who scored 40 runs, the likes of Dean Edgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock and others failed to do the talking with their bat on first day of the pink ball Test match - the first-ever South Africa are competing in. However, debutant Tabraiz Shamsi filled the shoes of Keshav Maharaj successfully indeed. He was the last man and added 30 runs more along with the Proteas stand-in skipper. At Stumps on Day One, the host ended at 14 for no loss, trailing by 245 runs. David Warner was away for shoulder treatment that led to Usman Khawaja (3*) and newbie Matt Renshaw (8*) beginning the action for Australia. (ANI)