STEVE SMITH was dismissed for an ugly seven as Australia closed-in on heavy defeat to South Africa amidst their ball-tampering scandal.
The shamed captain scratched around in an atypically jerky knock leaving his side struggling on 75-5 chasing 430 to win.
Smith has been stripped of the captaincy for the rest of this Test, banned from the next and fined his entire match fee for his part in getting Cameron Bancroft to tamper with the ball on Saturday at Newlands.
After South Africa racked up a huge 373 in their second innings, Australia were set a would-be record run chase of 429.
After a solid start, with David Warner and Bancroft putting on 57 for the opening wicket, the pressure looked to get to the Aussies.
Bancroft was brilliantly run-out by Faf du Plessis, before a visibly-heated Kagiso Rabada had Warner caught by AB de Villiers.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj then grabbed two wickets in an over as Australia lost four wickets for two runs.
Smith came into the crease amidst the madness – both on and off the field – and looked frustrated.
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Having scratched around, he swiped at a short-ball, top-edging it for a flukey six.
However, moments later he was caught by Dean Elgar in the slips as his ugly innings was brought to a close.
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The wicket left Australia facing a crushing defeat – and what would be a 2-1 deficit in the Test series.
It was Smith’s last contribution of the series, as he is now banned for the fourth and final test in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the Australian media have been quick to slaughter Smith and the senior members of the team for their actions.
Even Aussie prime minister Malcolm Turnbull slated the embarrassment, with the national newspapers piling on the pressure.
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