Scott Boland has taken 4-31 to put Australia on top in the second Test in Gqeberha, with South Africa 5-97 at stumps on a rain-hit day two despite an unbeaten 41 from captain Temba Bavuma. Matt Renshaw added another highlight to his tour with a stunning one-handed slips catch late in the day.
Only 30.4 overs were bowled on Monday (local time) after heavy overnight and morning rain left the St George’s Park outfield sodden and washed out the first two sessions, cricket.com.au reported. Just 43 overs have been possible across the opening two days.
Boland, recalled in place of Nathan Lyon for this Test, needed only seven balls on day two to remove debutant Marques Ackerman, caught behind by Alex Carey for 6. He had taken two wickets in two balls on day one, when South Africa reached 2-20 in the 12.2 overs possible.
Mitchell Starc then had Matthew Breetzke caught behind for 4 to leave the Proteas 4-40.
Bavuma fights back
Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton steadied South Africa with a 52-run fifth-wicket stand, and the home captain hooked Pat Cummins for a towering six that a steward had to walk out through the entrance gates and onto Park Drive to collect, cricket.com.au reported.
Read more: Nathan Lyon Left Out as Australia Bowl First in Gqeberha Test
Rickelton was dropped on 26 by Marnus Labuschagne at leg slip off Cummins, with the chance striking Labuschagne in the chest, Fox Sports reported.
Two overs later, Boland found Rickelton’s edge and Renshaw dived low to his right at first slip to complete a one-handed catch, removing Rickelton for 31 with the score on 5-92.
“He looked gone for all money. Wow,” former Australian batter Simon Katich said on commentary, as reported by Fox Sports.
Renshaw scored 190 and 82 in Australia’s series-opening win in Durban.
Hazlewood update
Australia were without Josh Hazlewood on day two after a stomach issue left him confined to the team hotel, cricket.com.au reported. Sky Sports said the fast bowler, who bowled five overs for three runs on day one, is expected to be available for the rest of the Test.
Bavuma (41 not out off 108 balls) will resume alongside Wiaan Mulder (2 not out) on an extended day three, with Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje still to bat.
Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0 after their 214-run win in Durban, and the third Test starts at Newlands in Cape Town on 27 October.
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