Australia solid batting display earns Anrich Nortje's plaudits

Two scalps claimed – the wicket of Steve Smith by Nortje and a run-out to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne – capped a miserable day for the South Africans, who now trail by 197 runs with the Aussies still boasting seven wickets in hand.

The 29-year-old paceman, who has one wicket for 50 runs in 16 overs in the innings, insisted the bowling unit delivered on the game plan but fortunes were just not on their side when it came to wickets.

"It looked like a good wicket in general, if you bowl [in] good areas, over time you'll probably get rewarded. They batted really well and we've been trying to get a breakthrough the whole day," said Nortje.

"I thought they controlled the situation really well, calmed it down when we were sort of not on top of them but hitting our areas, and then when the guys were maybe a bit tired or later in the day when the ball wasn't doing much, they tried to dominate again.

"I think all-in-all it was a good day of cricket. From my side, I was just trying to get a breakthrough somewhere in the innings, try and come with pace – my role, which is sort of being more aggressive and trying to speed it up.

"So, that was the plan, it didn't really work out but I thought the boys bowled really well and I felt everyone sort of nailed their role in the team, unfortunately, it didn't go our way."

With David Warner notching up a double-ton before retiring hurt, Nortje reserved praise for the 36-year-old veteran as he ended a nearly three-year wait for a Test century.

"He batted really well and hats off to him for getting that [200]. The energy and fight he showed, I thought, was really good from his side. Hopefully, we can get him in the second innings – thinking out loud in my head, it's been a long day," he said.