It’s clear – well at this stage at least – that given more sunshine (forecast) and no rain (not in the forecast), the pitch at the KR Oval is getting flatter and flatter. An hour into the second day and NSW have progressed to 7/361 losing an early wicket to a sharp chance at short square.

Bowlers are straining but to little effect as the boundary count increases – the square is slightly elevated with a drop on all sides, so anything off the square will speed to the boundary with this fast and drying outfield.

From 5/179 SA have let things slip and can’t allow NSW to get too many more. But let’s see.

The next hour brings more misery for SA who, by the end of the session just want it to stop! Jack Edwards goes to his century (and on) lunching on 132no and Ben Dwarhuis 52no. The stand is over 100, the bowlers trying hard but this is turning into a very flat track – and now a very light shade of green as NSW lunch on 7/431.

The agony for SA ends 30 minutes after lunch when NSW declare at 9/447. Edwards fell for 138 to the deep trap SA had been luring him into for some time and Dwarhuis ends on 60no.

McAndrew for SA takes six of the nine wickets to fall and seemed the more dangerous of the quicks being slightly slower in pace than Agar and Johnson who, other than first thing yesterday, did very little other than get the old ball to do a bit.

This session is key – SA need a good start!

And to a degree they get it – tea at 1/55 against a pace attack seems a good effort. No real alarms as the pitch just gets flatter. Unless there’s a collapse I see this as 450-plays-450 and the third innings starting on day 4 but I’ve been wrong before and…

First drinks 2/96. Hadley launched into the attack! Drew…oops but still there. At second drinks 3/123 Drew 50no. Bowling is higher standard than SA. Pitch more yellow – flatter, but is spin yet to play a part?

3/134 at the close with Daniel Drew 51no. The first target has to be 248 to save the follow on but with the pitch looking more benign by the hour, this looks like a nailed on draw…but what do I know?