South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test: 5 Heated moments

Australia continued their winning run in South Africa as they defeated the hosts by 120 runs in the first of the four-match Test series. The visitors were favourites coming into the series given their record in the rainbow nation and kept a lid on the under-fire home side from the word go. It was Mitchell Starc’s skill to reverse-swing the old ball which made the difference in the end and just didn’t allow South Africa who were thinking of a chasing down 417 after the defining partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock.

When two equally matched and higher-ranked teams meet, the tempers are expected to flare with the matches being fought closely. The opening Test of the series was not an exception either for that with players from both the sides getting involved in a heated conversation a number of times. While all these things are part and parcel of the game but they should not cross the line which seems to have happened in this game.

Here we bring you the top 5 heated moments during the course of this Test match:

5. Rabada clapping for Warner after dismissal

Australia were in a strong position after skittling South Africa out for a paltry total of 162 in their first innings. They bagged a huge lead of 189 runs and it was time for their batsmen to have some fun in the second innings and bat the hosts out of the game. Accordingly, the opening duo of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft started off confidently and accumulated runs at a faster pace. The former, especially, was more attacking in his approach and was threatening to take the game away from South Africa.

However, the first ball of the 14th over of the innings proved to be his undoing as he hit the shortish delivery from Kagiso Rabada straight to the wide mid-on fielder. Soon after the wicket, Rabada clapped by looking at Warner and had something to say to him while he was going off. Though the umpire Kumar Dharmasena right away interfered and took the bowler away to avoid any ugly scenes. The umpire also had a word with the skipper Faf du Plessis and warned the bowler for the same.