AUSTRALIA TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA
Zaahier Adams|Updated
SCOREBOARD
2nd Test, Stumps, Day 2
South Africa: 97/5 (Bavuma 41*, Rickelton 31, Boland 4/31, Starc 1/27)
The Proteas hopes in the remainder of not only this St George's Park Test, but the entire series rests on the shoulders of their skipper Temba Bavuma.
Despite Australia only being able to send down 43 overs across two days of the second Test after a further two sessions were lost on the second day to inclement weather and a sodden outfield, it has all been going wrong for the home side.
The World Test Champions were four wickets down for just 40 runs after losing another two batters early on once play eventually got underway at 3:45pm.
Scott Boland, the fast bowler with the best statistical average since World War II, was brooding with intent. Bristling in from the Park Drive End, Boland had the red Kookaburra on a string, moving it extravagantly off the seam in both directions.
The Victorian had already snapped up Test debutant Marques Ackerman to add to his overnight scalps of Aiden Markram and David Bedingham and looked primed for further success.
Someone from somewhere had to blunt the assault, and it came in the form of Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton, batting at No. 6 for the first time since inheriting the gloves from Kyle Verreynne.
They took no risks. They were dogged, disciplined and vigilant, letting ball after ball pass outside their bats. It stood in stark contrast to Matthew Breetzke earlier, who looked every bit a man short of red-ball cricket when he flashed at a wide Mitchell Starc delivery outside off stump.
Every run Bavuma scored seemed to be eked from deep within his soul. The Proteas captain, fully aware that he was carrying his team's hopes on his shoulders, played each delivery with immense care and concentration.
His discipline was unwavering. He left superbly outside off stump and, when he was forced to play, did so with soft hands and directly beneath his eyes.
It forced Australia to alter their plans and turn to a short-ball strategy, complete with a leg slip and deep square leg. But Bavuma stood tall here too, hooking his counterpart Pat Cummins for six over fine leg.
The plan almost paid off at the other end, though. Rickelton (31 off 51 balls, 5x4) had been equally circumspect alongside his skipper, but Cummins forced the left-hander to fend a lifting delivery into the waiting hands of Marnus Labuschagne.
Labuschagne, though, shelled the chance and Rickelton was granted a reprieve.
But just when it looked as though the pair would guide South Africa safely to stumps, Boland was summoned once more.
Switched to the Duck Pond End, he produced another tantalising delivery that found Rickelton's outside edge and was rewarded with a spectacular one-handed catch by Matthew Renshaw at first slip.
The 52-run stand, compiled from 109 balls, was broken and the door to South Africa's middle order was once again left ajar.
Wiaan Mulder was able to navigate the last few overs along with Bavuma, but Australia will know that its the Proteas skipper that stands between them and possibly taking a large step towards sealing the series here in Gqeberha.