Anrich Nortje has enjoyed belated reward for his spell of fast bowling that left David Warner gobsmacked and battered.
The South African paceman was on a hat-trick when he bowled Travis Head and Warner early on day three of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Immediately after lunch the day before, Nortje had unleashed a four-over spell against Warner and Steve Smith that earned widespread praise.
He had two of Test cricket's best batsmen ducking and weaving as he routinely hit 150km/h and bowled as fast as 155km/h.
"That's the fastest spell I've ever faced in my Test career. That was extraordinary," Warner told the Seven Network before play on Wednesday.
"And in this heat, to just keep coming in, ball after ball, delivering 150-plus - you see there, my (bat) handle went backwards.
"It was awesome stuff from him ... us as batsmen, we have to try to negate that."
Warner was hit on the hand and on the helmet, with the Australian stars doing well not to be blasted out.
"You know what's coming at you, the hardest thing (is) trying to get in a position to either pull it, or get out of the way," he said.
"As you saw, I got 'lidded' - I can't remember the last time I got lidded in a game."
It ended up being a torrid day for Nortje, who deserved a lot more than his solitary wicket on day two.
Immediately after his fine bowling spell, the spider cam walloped him as he was fielding.
He also one of several players who needed treatment for cramp in the brutal heat.
But on Wednesday, Nortje bowled Head for 51 with an outstanding delivery.
Then Warner resumed his innings on 200 after having to leave the field in distress the afternoon before.
Warner left as quickly as he had returned, Nortje cleaning him up with a spearing full toss that ricocheted off his pads onto the stumps.
That gave the South African three wickets, with Australian captain Pat Cummins surviving the hat-trick ball.
