South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis celebrates his century 100 runs during the first day of the Third Test cricket match in Adelaide - Reuters

AFP: Skipper Faf du Plessis put his ball tampering controversy behind him to defy Australia’s bowlers and produce his most satisfying century to put South Africa in early control of the day-night third Test in Adelaide.

Du Plessis was booed by the crowd as he walked out to bat, following a ball-tampering incident for which he was found guilty and fined, but cleared to play in the match.

But he single-handedly lifted the Proteas before declaring at 259 for nine leaving him unbeaten on 118 off 164 balls after the tourists had been struggling at 95 for four against Steve Smith’s revamped team.

The Australians, with David Warner unable to open the innings because of the time he spent off the field having treatment when the declaration was made, negotiated 12 overs to be 14 without loss at the close of day one.

English-born debutant opener Matt Renshaw played watchfully for eight with Usman Khawaja on three. 

It was yet another crucial knock by du Plessis at the Adelaide ground where four years ago his defiant 376-ball unbeaten knock of 110 denied Australia victory to earn the Proteas a backs-to-the-wall draw.

Du Plessis scampered through for two off Josh Hazlewood to bring up his sixth Test century prompting a smattering of boos amid the applause of the 32,255 crowd.

It was a tribute to his focus and concentration as du Plessis played a chanceless innings, making him stand out in contrast to the problems experienced by his team-mates.

Hazlewood was the best of the Australian bowlers with four wickets for 68.

Only opener Steve Cook provided any material support to his captain with 40 after profiting from an early reprieve.

Cook had a major let-off on four, when he was struck on the back pad by Mitchell Starc and given out leg before wicket in the day’s third over.

But he was called back to the crease when replays found that Starc had over-stepped. 

Cook eventually fell in the fifth over of the middle session when he sparred at Starc and nicked to Smith at second slip.

Dashing wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who has scores of 84, 64 and 104 in the series, had a failure by comparison, managing just 24 off 33 balls.

Vernon Philander lost a third umpire review when ‘Snicko’ detected the faintest of edges off Hazlewood to Matthew Wade for four nearing the dinner break, while Kyle Abbott chipped in with a spirited 17.

Wade, recalled to the national side for dumped gloveman Peter Nevill, had five dismissals, four catches and a stumping.

Australia are fighting off the threat of their sixth straight Test defeat, after losing 3-0 in Sri Lanka in July and August. They are also on the brink of their first-ever home Test series whitewash.

Du Plessis rates ton his best, catches Aussies unawares

AFP: Faf du Plessis, motivated by the events of his controversial ball-tampering case, ranked his unbeaten century in South Africa’s pink-ball Test with Australia Thursday as the best of his career.

The Proteas skipper hit an unbeaten 118 and then caught the Australians off-guard with a surprise declaration at 259 for nine to have the tourists in a good position at the end of the opening day of the third Adelaide Test.

It had been a tumultuous few days for du Plessis, who was found guilty of ball-tampering by the International Cricket Council after he was caught on camera sucking a mint and rubbing saliva into the ball during last week’s second Test against Australia in Hobart.

Given all the drama from his much-publicised appearance at the hearing it was a remarkable effort of concentration and will for du Plessis to conquer the Australian bowlers and post his sixth Test century, one he rates as his best.

“My best. Everything. What was required to get to this point now. Surprisingly, technically, I was the best this whole series. I felt really good, but in the context of everything else, (it was) the best,” he told reporters.

“I was really motivated. I felt it needed a character test, and the only way I could do it was by scoring runs.”

But du Plessis, who was booed by the home crowd as he came out to bat with his team wobbling at 44 for three, was dismayed by yet more booing when he reached his courageous century off 147 balls. 

“I was expecting a little bit of hostility, but not to that extent,” he admitted.

“When I came out to bat I was obviously quite aware of it and as the innings went on it disappeared a bit.

“But to be really honest when I got to 100 I wasn’t expecting to still get booed, so that was pretty disappointing.”