A snapshot of day two of the first Test

Joel Gould | December 19, 2022

AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, FIRST TEST, DAY TWO

SCORE: Australia 218 and 4-35. South Africa 152 and 99. Australia won by six wickets.

SUMMARY: Nineteen wickets tumbled on an extraordinary second day at the Gabba in which both sides’ pacemen ran amok.

Led by captain Pat Cummins, Australia’s quicks kept their foot on the throat of South Africa’s batsmen to set up victory inside two days.

The Proteas started the day well to bowl Australia out for 218 after they resumed day two on 5-145 in their first innings. Left-arm speedster Marco Jansen (3-32) broke through early to remove Cameron Green (18) and Travis Head (92) to get his side back in the game.

The visitors then collapsed with all of four of Australia’s front-line bowlers in peak form.

Cummins (5-42) was at one point on a hat-trick, while Scott Boland (2-14) removed his two victims in three balls. The bowlers’ display vindicated Cummins’ decision to send South Africa in after winning the toss.

Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada (4-13) came after the Australian top order as they chased 35 to win, in a warning shot ahead of the next two Tests.

MAN OF THE MOMENT: Mitchell Starc. His 300th Test wicket was a trademark inswinger that was far too good for Rassie van der Dussen, who was bowled through the gate. The dismissal showcased just how good the 32-year-old Starc is. Batsmen all around the world know the delivery is coming, but surviving it has so often proved a bridge too far.

KEY MOMENT: Temba Bavuma was on 29 and leading a second innings fightback of sorts with Khaya Zondo when a fizzing offbreak by Nathan Lyon trapped him in front. Bavuma reviewed and DRS revealed the ball was skimming leg stump. The Proteas were 3-47 and just 19 runs behind Australia at the time. The Bavuma wicket ended any chance the visitors had of setting a competitive total.

STAT OF THE DAY: 91. The number of years since a Test finished inside two days on Australian soil prior to this Gabba match. That was back in 1931 when Australia beat the West Indies by an innings and 122 runs at the MCG.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He’s done it again. Uncanny.” Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith on Fox Cricket after Proteas left-armer Marco Jansen took a wicket in the first over of a spell for the 12th time in his short Test career.