Twitter Reactions: South Africa walk away with the WACA Test

The last day of the Perth Test was expected to be a tough day at office for the Australians as they started with Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh while four of their batters had already dropped their weapons yesterday. Both the batsmen were up against Kagiso Rabada & Co. with the 21-year-old leading the bowling charge for South Africa and running in quite a rhythm.

They defied them early in the day and prevented any sort of early collapse as such. Having added 50 runs in the partnership Marsh was trapped by Rabada, wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Nevill then played the perfect partner to Khawaja while the duo attempted to not just see through the overs but also scored runs. The Australian No. 3 who played really well was eventually dismissed just 3 short of a well deserved hundred.

Despite losing his partner Nevill didn’t let it go and sought support from all the following batsmen walking in. It was certain they couldn’t assist him much with runs, but staying there for a stable duration of overs was all he could ask of them. Mitchell Starc stood at the crease for 24 balls for his 13; Peter Siddle though scored exactly the same number of runs lasted longer and faced 32 deliveries.

It was Josh Hazlewood who joined Nevill then and they a good stand for the 9th wicket. Coming together in the 93rd over they added 65 runs in 20.3 overs to give the team some hope. But when it appeared like his front line bowlers weren’t really able to get him the wicket, skipper Faf du Plessis turned to Temba Bavuma once again and bowling right-arm medium pace he got his first international wicket in the form of Hazlewood as he had him caught by Dean Elgar for 29 runs.

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The last man Nathan Lyon also tried his bit and battled for 22 balls but was eventually dismissed by debutant Keshav Maharaj while Nevill was unbeaten on 60 from 153 balls. Australia lost the match by a massive 177 runs margin.

Here is how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s huge win in the 1st Test:

So proud of the guys! What a massive effort, walked in and boom got the last wkt. Thanx for all the well wishes too, massively appreciated pic.twitter.com/azPttbKGby

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 7, 2016

Brilliant performance from @OfficialCSA …no AB DeVilliers, No D Steyn and basically no H Amla. #highquality

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) November 7, 2016

What a great start for the Proteas! Superb performance by the entire team. Onwards and upwards #ProteaFire #SAvsAUS @OfficialCSA

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 7, 2016

Must rank up there with one of the #Proteas best test wins. Congrats to the team. Lots of excellent contributions

— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) November 7, 2016

Looking at Rabada bowl you would think he's played test cricket for 10 years.

— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) November 6, 2016

Australia's unbeaten streak in the first Test of the home summer – going back to '88 – comes to an end: DWWDDWWWWDWWDWDWWWWWWDWDWWWL #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/FOwFlCooOL

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 7, 2016

Congratulations @KagisoRabada25 on his Man of the Match award! #ProteaFire #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/IzaGVCW67m

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 7, 2016

How awesome are you, Proteas???#AUSvSA

— Adlee Sharon (@adlee_sharon) November 7, 2016

Congratulations @OfficialCSA Now that was a fantastic team effort… back against the walls and everyone responded #AusvSA Good one !!!

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) November 7, 2016

Who would have thought the match would make it to day 5. After the first innings and SA winning it! #ausvsa

— Aggie Wa Vimbai (@aggiechiss) November 7, 2016

Steve Smith as Test captain….
First 11 Tests: won 7, lost 0, drawn 4
Next 4 Tests: won 0, lost 4, drawn 0#AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 7, 2016

Australia's Test record at home since the last time the Proteas beat them at the WACA:

WWWWWWWWWWDDWDWWWDL#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/7A8bhm1wXK

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 7, 2016

One of South Africa's greatest Test wins ever. Without @ABdeVilliers17 and losing @DaleSteyn62 in the game. Australia's fight over. #AUSVSA pic.twitter.com/DWTGtLUdfF

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 7, 2016

After being unbeaten at home in their last 18 Tests, Australia has finally lost one
Prev loss:also to SAf also @ Perth on 3-12-2012#AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 7, 2016

Sout Africa in Tests at the WACA:

2005: Draw
2008: Won by 6 wkts
2012: Won by 309 runs
2016: Won by 177 runs#ausvsa

— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) November 7, 2016

To add up to all the drama that has happened in this match, Temba Bavuma has come up with a test wicket. Amazing!#AUSvSA

— Nish Navalkar (@YUVI_NISH) November 7, 2016

Temba Bavuma has his first wicket in Test cricket!!! Hazlewood out for 29. AUS 345/9 #AUSvSA

— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) November 7, 2016

Low fives all round as Temba Bavuma gets his first Test wicket, about two hours after he should have. South Africa one away. #AUSvSA

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) November 7, 2016

300 balls for Rabada – first time he's bowled that many in a Test match #AUSvSA #workloads

— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) November 7, 2016

Rabada is a gem with the right attitude unlike some players who knows their places are guaranteed everytime Proteas play.#ausvsa

— Borotho or Boroko (@ApproachRemedy) November 7, 2016

Considering no reliance on AB and #, & Dale's injury, this has to be one of the greatest comebacks EVER. Turn it into a movie, now! #ausvsa

— The Bruce (@RobRay_ZA) November 7, 2016

Still remember it was @SGanguly99 who explained the world that Aussie's can be defeated in Test Cricket #ausvsa

— M@ndeep (@mandeepkapoor24) November 7, 2016

How do you stop a collapse
Dunno.
Wait for rain
Nope
Ask the bowler
Nah
Get the Captain to go in early
He did that. Nope
Ask Darren#AUSvSA

— The 17th Man (@17thManDiary) November 7, 2016

Faf du Plessis describes Sth Af's day 2 turnaround in Perth as "one of the most special days I've been involved in" #AUSvSA

— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) November 7, 2016

Last time we lost the 1st test of the summer, G Marsh was opening bat. 1988. #familyties @wwos #ausvsa #cricket @CricketAus

— Richard Kidston (@Kido22) November 7, 2016

My manger asked me for today's update …
I said "South Africa won" ..#ausvsa
Mgr : you can go home

— Piyush Maheshwari (@NotoriousPiyush) November 7, 2016

A full 5 day entertaining test.The way the toss at first seemed like a wrong choice,the end made it right. Congrats SA. #ausvsa #ProteaFire

— pp (@self_walker) November 7, 2016

I still get the impression @tbavuma10 would be one of the taller guys in Bangladesh team. #sizeisnteverything #AUSvSA #Proteas #proteafire

— Balls on the line (@BallsontheLine) November 7, 2016