DURBAN (South Africa): The spin of Nathan Lyon and the reverse swing of Mitchell Starc despatched South Africa crashing on the second one day of the first Test towards Australia at Kingsmead on Friday.
As it happened - 1st Test: South Africa vs Australia, Day 2 | Scorecard
South Africa had been bowled out for 162 in a while before the close, giving Australia a lead of 189 runs within the first innings.
Lyon started the slide for the hosts and finished with 3 for 50 before the tall left-armer Starc gave an impressive show of rapid, reverse swing bowling to take five for 34.
AB de Villiers played nearly a lone hand for South Africa, making 71 no longer out.
Mitchell Marsh struck 96 for Australia. Largely thru his efforts, as well as an aggressive innings of 35 through Starc, Australia's closing 3 wickets added 100 runs to take them to a complete of 351.
On a pitch which has proved even slower than predicted through both captains, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took five for 123 for South Africa.
Spin persevered to be efficient when South Africa batted. Off-spinner Lyon was brought on within the 8th over and took two wickets in his first over.
Starc used reverse swing bowled from across the wicket to make the ball transfer disconcertingly clear of the right-handed batsmen before blasting out the closing two batsmen, both left-handers, with complete deliveries bowled from over the wicket.
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram placed on 27 for South Africa's first wicket and had been looking moderately comfy until Australian captain Steve Smith brought Lyon into the attack within the 8th over.
He had nearly quick luck, catching Elgar off his own bowling together with his second supply. Three balls later he had Hashim Amla caught off bat and pad at quick leg.
Markram (32) fended a brief ball from Pat Cummins to provide Cameron Bancroft a second catch at quick leg to leave South Africa reeling at 55 for 3 at tea.
De Villiers and captain Faf du Plessis batted optimistically after tea, scoring freely off Lyon in order that the spinner was taken off after a spell of 2 for 36 in ten overs.
He was replaced through the Starc, who struck twice with reverse swing, having both Du Plessis and Theunis de Bruyn caught at the back of off balls which moved clear of them.
Brought back into the attack, Lyon ended a promising sixth-wicket stand of 42 between De Villiers and Quinton de Kock, bowling De Kock for 20.
Almost from the start of his innings, De Villiers appeared in a different class to his teammates, timing the ball fantastically in spite of the sluggish pitch. He reached his fifty off 81 balls with nine fours.
Mitchell Marsh, who had made centuries in two of his previous Tests, both towards England, appeared set for any other until he drove Vernon Philander to mid-on, the place Morne Morkel, South Africa's tallest fielder, leapt to take the catch.
Marsh batted cautiously to be on 60 no longer out off 147 balls at lunch, seeing off the second one new ball, before adding any other 36 runs off most effective 26 balls after the interval. He hit 13 fours and a six.
Starc hit 35 off 25 balls to provide a momentum shift for Australia before being bowled through Maharaj within the closing over before lunch.
As it happened - 1st Test: South Africa vs Australia, Day 2 | Scorecard
South Africa had been bowled out for 162 in a while before the close, giving Australia a lead of 189 runs within the first innings.
Lyon started the slide for the hosts and finished with 3 for 50 before the tall left-armer Starc gave an impressive show of rapid, reverse swing bowling to take five for 34.
AB de Villiers played nearly a lone hand for South Africa, making 71 no longer out.
Mitchell Marsh struck 96 for Australia. Largely thru his efforts, as well as an aggressive innings of 35 through Starc, Australia's closing 3 wickets added 100 runs to take them to a complete of 351.
On a pitch which has proved even slower than predicted through both captains, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took five for 123 for South Africa.
Spin persevered to be efficient when South Africa batted. Off-spinner Lyon was brought on within the 8th over and took two wickets in his first over.
Starc used reverse swing bowled from across the wicket to make the ball transfer disconcertingly clear of the right-handed batsmen before blasting out the closing two batsmen, both left-handers, with complete deliveries bowled from over the wicket.
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram placed on 27 for South Africa's first wicket and had been looking moderately comfy until Australian captain Steve Smith brought Lyon into the attack within the 8th over.
He had nearly quick luck, catching Elgar off his own bowling together with his second supply. Three balls later he had Hashim Amla caught off bat and pad at quick leg.
Markram (32) fended a brief ball from Pat Cummins to provide Cameron Bancroft a second catch at quick leg to leave South Africa reeling at 55 for 3 at tea.
De Villiers and captain Faf du Plessis batted optimistically after tea, scoring freely off Lyon in order that the spinner was taken off after a spell of 2 for 36 in ten overs.
He was replaced through the Starc, who struck twice with reverse swing, having both Du Plessis and Theunis de Bruyn caught at the back of off balls which moved clear of them.
Brought back into the attack, Lyon ended a promising sixth-wicket stand of 42 between De Villiers and Quinton de Kock, bowling De Kock for 20.
Almost from the start of his innings, De Villiers appeared in a different class to his teammates, timing the ball fantastically in spite of the sluggish pitch. He reached his fifty off 81 balls with nine fours.
Mitchell Marsh, who had made centuries in two of his previous Tests, both towards England, appeared set for any other until he drove Vernon Philander to mid-on, the place Morne Morkel, South Africa's tallest fielder, leapt to take the catch.
Marsh batted cautiously to be on 60 no longer out off 147 balls at lunch, seeing off the second one new ball, before adding any other 36 runs off most effective 26 balls after the interval. He hit 13 fours and a six.
Starc hit 35 off 25 balls to provide a momentum shift for Australia before being bowled through Maharaj within the closing over before lunch.
1st Test: Starc five-for puts Australia in total control
![1st Test: Starc five-for puts Australia in total control]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 03, 2018
Rating:
