SA vs AUS, 1st Test, Day 2, Review: Australia blow away the hosts for 162 courtesy Starc after posting 351

The second day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia began with the game in the balance and both the teams were eyeing to get an upper hand. While the visitors found different players putting their hands up, the Proteas had only AB de Villiers to fight for them during the course of play. In the end, it turned out to be an excellent day for Australia and Mitchell Starc as they can boss the Test match from here on. However, South Africa will need a miracle to make a comeback in this game now.

Earlier in the day, Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine began cautiously as the new ball was due in just four overs for their opponents. Though they delayed it, the wicket of the latter fell as soon as the home side took the new cherry with Kagiso Rabada striking. They stemmed the flow of runs and that also brought the wicket of Pat Cummins who scored only 3 during his 38-ball vigil. He was castled by Keshav Maharaj with a beauty of a delivery.

Marsh misses out on a century

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh completed his half-century as Mitchell Starc started belting the ball. He took the attack to Maharaj and went on to smash 35 off just 25 balls with 4 fours and a couple of massive sixes. However, the left-arm spinner disturbed his furniture with a delivery which turned drastically. Marsh, who was running out of partners, launched a counter-attacking assault on South African bowlers then to add 41 runs for the ninth wicket.

Though he played way too many shots and was caught at mid-on off Vernon Philander on 96. He played really well and deserved yet another Test century to his name on the day. Australia were eventually bowled out on 351, the score which they were aiming when the day began. Maharaj was the hero for South Africa as he scalped fourth five-wicket haul of his Test career.

De Villiers fight for Saffers as others struggle

South Africa’s opening combination of Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram started confidently but the introduction of spin bowling in the 8th over changed the game on its head. Nathan Lyon struck in his very first over, not once but twice, to send back the former and Hashim Amla. While Elgar was caught and bowled by the spinner, Amla was caught at the short leg for a duck. The twin fall of wickets brought their best man AB de Villiers to the middle.

He batted beautifully and most importantly attacked Lyon to unsettle him. But the procession of wickets continued at the other end. Markram once again lost his wicket after getting a start and was caught surprised by the well-directed bouncer from Pat Cummins. The skipper Faf du Plessis looked impressive but was undone by a wonderful delivery from Mitchell Starc who found some reverse swing. He bowled excellently with the old ball and plucked couple more wickets of Theunis de Bruyn and Vernon Philander.

Meanwhile, de Villiers was watching all the mayhem at the other end. He was looking in no trouble whatsoever and played some delightful strokes. Unfortunately, nobody showed character like him as the tail was blown away by Starc with some quality reverse swing bowling. The hosts collapsed from being 150/5 to 162 all-out as Starc returned with the magical figures of 5/34. AB de Villiers was left stranded on 71 and was simply class apart but he was never allowed to come on strike in the last few overs.

While Starc is getting almost unplayable when the ball is reversing, Lyon was the man who created opening at the top and did the job easier for his teammate.

Australia are clearly on top in this Test match and they would love to pile on the agony on their opponents on the third day. South Africa, however, will need a spectacular bowling performance to turn around this game which looks highly unlikely as of now.

Brief Scores

Australia 351 (M Marsh 96, S Smith 56, D Warner 51; K Maharaj 5/123, V Philander 3/59)

South Africa 162 (AB de Villiers 71*; M Starc 5/34, N Lyon 3/50)