by Lunch South Africa 3 for 2 (Erwee 1*, Bavuma 0* & 152 (Verreynne 64, Lyon 3-14) trail Australia 218 (Head 92, Rabada 4-76) track by 63 tracks
Only four cricket sessions have been played in this Test, but South Africa are already setting Australia a fourth innings goal. In a morning fast forward, seven wickets fell as Australia were knocked out for 218 to take a 66 lead, and South Africa lost two of the front three in five explosive overs by the bowlers of Australian opening in response.
Dean Elgar was the first to be ejected on the fourth ball of the inning when he was beaten by a length delivery from Pat Cummins and hit to the front cushion. He reviewed, perhaps hoping the rebound would take the ball over the stumps, but was absent on the ref’s call with bhttps://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/ most_wickets_career.html?class=1;id=2;type=teamall-tracking showing delivery would continue to center stump clip. This dismissal came from a good ball but the best was yet to come.
Earlier, Australia took the lead in the first five deliveries as Kagiso Rabada ended his night. Cameron Green kicked a half volley and pushed Rabada to the ground to put the hosts ahead. Green repeated the shot twice more in Rabada’s next two overs to force him out of the attack early. But it didn’t work to Australia’s advantage.
Marco Jansen replaced Rabada and struck twice in his opening run to cut off Australia’s fast start. Green received another half-volley, on Jansen’s second ball, and he attempted a booming drive. He only managed a thick edge that flew to Keshav Maharaj on the third slide. Maharaj parried the ball and Sarel Erwee, on the first slip, ran behind him to take the hold. Two balls later, Head tried to peek a short ball to the side of the leg and appeared to glove the ball to the leg, to Kyle Verreynne. Head reviewed and although there was nothing on the hotspot, snicko revealed a spike which confirmed he hit both the glove and the shirt. His 96-ball innings ended on 92.
Australia’s lead was just 30 points at this point, and it was up to Alex Carey and down order to push past 50 points. the eighth wicket. Carey ran well in his short innings, no limits in his 30-ball 22s, but 12 singles, two threes and a four, which he and Starc ran.
They extended Australia’s lead to over 60 before Lungi Ngidi was brought in after the first drinks break and drilled. Starc hit Ngidi’s first ball in the air midway through for four and then kicked the last ball in the air as well. Ngidi went low in his follow up and made a good catch back.
