Adelaide: Having been portrayed as a villain in Australia all week, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis decided to play the role to its fullest with a piece of tactical gamesmanship after scoring another unbeaten century.
Booed as he went to the crease on Thursday with South Africa in trouble at 44-3, du Plessis extended his impregnable run at the Adelaide Oval with 118 not out. He declared the innings at 259-9, about 40 minutes from stumps on day one of the day-night test, because he knew it would force another reshuffle of Australia's batting order.
Du Plessis was the player of the match on his test debut when he batted the entire last day for an unbeaten 110 to salvage a series-swinging draw at Adelaide in 2012. He was easily the player of the day on his return to the venue.
With David Warner not allowed to open the batting for Australia because he'd been off the field for too long getting treatment, Usman Khawaja moved up to partner 20-year-old newcomer Matt Renshaw. They navigated 12 overs under lights to reach stumps at 14 without loss, with Renshaw on 8 and Khawaja on 3.
Renshaw was one of three new caps rushed into the XI among five changes after a heavy defeat in Hobart last week that gave South Africa a series-clinching 2-0 lead.
That caused upheaval for Australia and du Plessis, who was fined but avoided a suspension after being found guilty by the International Cricket Council of ball tampering in the second test.
It was a tribute to his focus and concentration as du Plessis played a chanceless innings, making it look easy despite 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 profitting 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.