Stumps South Africa 97 for 5 (Bavuma 41*, Mulder 2*, Boland 4-31) vs Australia
Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton shared a 52-run fifth-wicket stand as South Africa fought back from 40 for 4, but it was advantage Australia at the end of the second day, with a stunning catch by Matt Renshaw at first slip capping off a curtailed day when three wickets fell in just under 30 overs for the addition of 77 runs. With 3.2 overs left in the day, Renshaw pulled off a speckie to end Rickelton's innings in the dying light and leave South Africa fighting to stay alive in the series.
Significant time has already been taken out of this match - 146 overs all told. On day two, play started at 15.45, six hours after it was scheduled to, as heavy overnight and early morning rain left several wet patches in the outfield. With three days to come and minimal rain forecast, Australia will feel they have enough time, thanks in large measure to the inspired selection of Scott Boland.
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After snagging two wickets in two balls on the truncated first day, Boland added two more to his tally and already has his best figures against South Africa.
Boland picked up where he left off almost 24 hours ago when he beat Bavuma's bat with the first ball of play. Bavuma responded by ending the over with the first runs of the day, a cracking shot through the covers that would have eased the nerves.
Marques Ackermann had no such luck and was greeted with a bouncer from Pat Cummins that came off the arm guard and ballooned to Alex Carey. Australia had thoughts of a review but decided against it and only had to wait until the next over to end Ackermann's laboured stay. He drove with hard hands to edge Boland to Carey off the 38th ball he had faced. Ackermann's first Test innings brought only six runs.
Bavuma seemed to settle but an appeal for caught behind off a wobble-seam Boland delivery would have reminded him to stay on his guard. He had Matthew Breetzke, playing his third Test and first first-class match since February, for company and the rustiness showed. Breetzke left reasonably well at first but when challenged by the angle from Mitchell Starc, who invited him to drive, he obliged and nicked off.
That brought Rickelton, who will keep wicket and was therefore moved down from opening the batting to No. 6, to the crease as early as in the 22nd over with a job on his hands. And Bavuma found his touch with a couple of delightful drives to do more good to his nerves.
Boland's first spell lasted ten overs, though he bowled 4.4 of them on the first afternoon, and with Josh Hazlewood unwell and unavailable, Australia had to turn to Beau Webster early. He bowled two maiden overs and then Carey was up to the stumps by his third. The first run only came in his fourth over, when Rickelton drove him to mid-on and scampered through for a tight single. By then Rickelton was timing the ball well and had unfurled two gorgeous drives down the ground off Cummins.
With nine overs remaining, Boland was brought back for a second burst as the shadows crept across St George's Park. The changing light didn't seem to bother Bavuma, who sent a Cummins short ball into Park Drive for six. He looked less likely to repeat that when Carey also stood up to Boland and the pressure was back on. Australia almost prised out their late wicket when Rickelton tucked Cummins to Marnus Labuschagne at leg slip. With the glare in his eyes, Labuschagne may have lost the ball as it hit him in the sternum. Rickelton was on 26 at the time.
Australia did not have to wait too long to get their man. Boland switched ends and found some movement away, Rickelton followed it and edged, but Carey didn't move. Instead, Renshaw dived almost across Carey and took a stunning one-hander inches off the turf. As Australia celebrated their golden boy, Rickelton threw his head back in disbelief at another start unconverted. He has one fifty from his last 13 Test innings.
Wiaan Mulder saw out the day with Bavuma, who is on 41 and has looked South Africa's most assured batter in this match so far.