Australia's Warner slams double century as Proteas struggle

South Africa trail by 197 runs as the hosts closed the day on 386/3, with Travis Head not out on 48 from 48 balls and Alex Carey on nine runs off 22 balls.

It was thanks largely to a great knock from Warner, who retired hurt upon reaching his double century – which took him just 254 balls, while Steve Smith also contributed 85 runs before being dismissed off Anrich Nortje.

The day's play saw the Proteas claim only the wickets of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne as Warner and Cameron Green both retired through injury – the latter having been forced off after being struck on the finger by a Nortje delivery.

Lungi Ngidi was another casualty on the day as he was forced off with a hamstring injury just before the close of play, a cause for concern for captain Dean Elgar and the South Africans' hopes of turning the tide.

– Warner's double century in 100th Test –

En route to three figures, the 36-year-old passed 8,000 Test runs – the eighth Australian to do so – after coming into the game under pressure after a lean run.

He notched his first Test century since January 2020 to prove the doubters wrong on day two of the second Test and with the opposition bowlers tiring in searing heat, he battled the elements and converted it to 200.

His third Test double century came off 254 balls with 16 fours and two sixes in a test of endurance in the heat.

He needed treatment for cramp several times and eventually retired in pain on 200, helped off the field.

Warner, who dropped to his knees which he reached 200, insisted before the match that "you're never out of form".

"They're not the words that I use and they're definitely not used in our change rooms," he said. "It's about (being) out of runs."

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