The ball that rapped Faf du Plessis on the finger sparked a change of mindset and spurred the captain on to his eighth Test hundred. His bravery is our Play of the Day.

Du Plessis was on 43 in the 62nd over, shortly after an interruption for bad light and drizzle, when a delivery from Pat Cummins leapt up and smashed into his hand.

Medical staff spent some time treating him as the blood flowed and he would have been more than justified in retiring hurt. But, given he was on a roll, he decided to bat on, with some pain-killers and extra padding on his glove.

It also galvanised him into playing with greater intent and purpose, producing some scintillating drives. His first 50 had taken 103 balls, with nine fours; his second came up in 63, eight fours and a six.

It was a psychological breakthrough for the captain, too, for he had struggled for runs in this series: his next best was 20. The 120 was his fourth-highest score and his first hundred since October last year against Bangladesh.

Du Plessis was eventually dismissed when he edged Cummins to the slips, where Peter Handscomb took an athletic catch.

He and Dean Elgar had added 170 for the fourth wicket and effectively took the game away from Australia.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images