(Reuters) – USMAN Khawaja scored 75 runs to lead an Australian fightback on the third day of the second test against South Africa at St George’s Park, falling just before close of play after enabling the tourists to cancel out a first innings deficit.
Australia will take a 41-run led into the fourth day after finishing Sunday’s play at 180 for five wickets.

Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh put on 87 runs for the fifth wicket before Khawaja, whose place in the team has been under threat, was trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada in the second to last over of the day.

The tourists had been teetering at 86-4 just after tea, when Khawaja was joined by Marsh, who played a solid supporting role to end the day on 39 not out. He will resume on Monday with Tim Paine, who has five runs to his name.

Australia lost three wickets in the second session after lunch, including that of Captain Steve Smith, and then Shaun Marsh with the second ball of the last session.

Scoreboard

Australia 1st innings 243 all out
South Africa 1st innings 382 all out

Australia 2nd innings
Cameron Bancroft b Lungi Ngidi 24
David Warner b Kagiso Rabada 13
Usman Khawaja lbw Kagiso Rabada 75
Steven Smith c Quinton de Kock b Keshav Maharaj 11
Shaun Marsh c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada 1
Mitchell Marsh not out 39
Tim Paine not out 5
Extras 0b 10lb 0nb 0pen 2w 12
Total (63.0 overs) 180-5

Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex
Vernon Philander 14 5 38 0 2.71
Kagiso Rabada 16 7 38 3 2.38 1w
Keshav Maharaj 20 2 70 1 3.50
Lungi Ngidi 10 4 21 1 2.10
Aiden Markram 3 1 3 0 1.00