Covers on. Sawdust on the soggy patches. Another inspection, then another. Gqeberha waited most of Monday for cricket, and when it finally came, it came with a sting. In about two hours of play the Proteas lost three more wickets, and it was their captain who held the innings together.
The Proteas Australia day two story ends with South Africa on 97 for 5 in their first innings at Dafabet St George’s Park, 43 overs into the match. Temba Bavuma is 41 not out, Wiaan Mulder has 2, and Scott Boland has 4/31 from 14 overs. One Test down in a three-match series, South Africa now have less time and fewer batters to work with.
How Proteas Australia day two unfolded
South Africa resumed on 20 for 2. Sunday’s 12.2 overs had been enough for Boland, preferred to Nathan Lyon in an all-seam attack on a grassy pitch, to bowl Aiden Markram for 11 and have David Bedingham caught behind by Alex Carey next ball. Our St George’s Park preview has what was riding on this match before a ball was bowled.
Overnight and morning rain left the outfield sodden, and the umpires inspected repeatedly before play began at 15:45. Two full sessions were gone.
It did not take Boland long. Marques Ackerman, on Test debut, added a single to his overnight 5 before edging him to Carey. That was 25 for 3. Matthew Breetzke, recalled for this Test, left two balls from Mitchell Starc and flashed at the third, a wide one. He was gone for 4, and at 40 for 4 the innings was in trouble.
Bavuma and Rickelton push back
Then came South Africa’s best passage of the day. Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton put on 52 from 109 balls for the fifth wicket, and for a while Australia had to work for everything.
Australia went short at the captain. Bavuma stood firm, and when Pat Cummins dropped short he helped him over fine leg for six.
Rickelton had his own escape. On 26 a short ball from Cummins carried to Marnus Labuschagne at leg gully, and the chance bounced out off his chest. Rickelton moved on to 31 from 51 balls, with five fours, before Boland found the edge late in the day. It flew low between Carey and first slip, and Matt Renshaw held it one-handed. That was 92 for 5.
Bavuma and Mulder saw it through to stumps. The captain has 41 from 108 balls, with five fours and that six.
| Day two at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Toss | Australia won and chose to bowl |
| South Africa, first innings | 97/5 (43 overs), stumps on day two |
| Not out | Temba Bavuma 41 (108 balls), Wiaan Mulder 2 |
| Wickets on day two | Ackerman 6 (25/3), Breetzke 4 (40/4), Rickelton 31 (92/5) |
| Best bowling | Scott Boland 4/31 (14 overs) |
| Other wicket | Mitchell Starc, Breetzke |
| Series | Australia lead 1-0 |
Boland’s Test so far
Four of the five wickets are Boland’s: Markram, Bedingham, Ackerman and Rickelton. Australia left out Nathan Lyon, their off-spinner, to pick him for these conditions, and it is hard to argue with the call.
Our view: Bavuma has shown this attack can be survived on this surface, but 97 for 5 is not a platform. Mulder and the lower order have to stay with the captain on Tuesday, because every run above 200 changes what Australia can do with the time that is left.
What comes next
The Test was scheduled for five days from Sunday, so three remain, and the weather has already taken a large bite. A draw is worth four World Test Championship points to each side and a win twelve. Our World Test Championship points explainer shows why a draw here would count for more than it looks.
South Africa cannot afford to lose this one. They know how fast Australia can turn a Test after the 214-run defeat at Kingsmead. Day three is on Tuesday, weather permitting, and the third Test follows at Newlands from 27 October.