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Cape Town — Stephen Cook continued his good form with a fine century as he guided the Proteas to a commanding 221/2 at tea on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

The second session only ended at 16:00 because of rain and bad light stoppages, but South Africa’s healthy lead of 302 leaves them as overwhelming favourites to win the Test match should the weather play ball.

Cook’s third Test century came off just 152 balls. He was 108* at tea.

Cook and Dean Elgar got the hosts off to a solid start in their second innings and had reached 116 before Elgar was gone for 52.

Cook was then joined by the out-of-form Hashim Amla, who looked anything but rusty as he cruised to 48 before being dismissed lbw on the final ball of the session.

Earlier, the Proteas had struck with the first ball of the day when Vernon Philander had Dhananjaya de Silva, who had looked so good on day two, caught behind for 43 with the first ball of the day.

Philander then had his fifth of the innings with the last ball of his first over when Suranga Lakmal was caught by Kyle Abbott at short mid-on for 4.

After a half-an-hour of resistance for the last wicket, Kyle Abbott then put the innings to bed when he had Dushmantha Chameera caught by Hashim Amla in the slips for 19.

Meanwhile, West Indian Andre Russell will be allowed to use a black bat in Australia’s T20 Big Bash League after making modifications, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.

The Sydney Thunder star used the bat with a black blade and pink handle during last week’s opening BBL match against the Sydney Sixers after Cricket Australia initially gave the all-clear.

But they reversed their stance after feedback from match officials that it was leaving black marks on the match ball.

BBL officials said Russell will now be able to resume using the bat after reviewing modifications made to it.

“Following feedback from the match officials that the bat used by Andre in the opening night of the season left black marks on the match ball, he has worked with his bat manufacturer to modify the bat,” BBL chief Anthony Everard said.

“A clear laminate cover has been applied to the bat which complies with regulations to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again.”

Under BBL regulations, a player can use a coloured bat as long as it is same colour as their team’s primary kit colour, or black.

Cricket Australia said it has the discretion to deny any approvals and the umpires can also request a player change the bat if they believe it is affecting the integrity of the match. — Sport24.