South Africa Vs Australia – 4th Test: Day 2 Summary and Analysis

1.    It was Day 2 of the last test match between these two teams, South Africa were 6 wickets down for 313. Australia looked pretty satisfied and aimed to clean up the last 4 wickets before South Africa reached 350+.

2.    However, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock shared a massive 85-run partnership and Australia had to toil quite a bit before Nathan Lyon claimed the wicket of Quinton.

3.    Philander now joined Bavuma on the crease but after sharing a brief partnership of 28 runs he too was sent off by Lyon. South Africa had now scored 412 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.

4.    With only two wickets in hand Bavuma and Maharaj looked to score runs quickly as they shared 76-run stand to take South Africa to 488.

5.    However, Cummins double-strike in two balls did not allow Australia to reach hundred and what’s interesting is that Bavuma who was standing at the non-striker’s end could not reach a well-deserved century and had to go back for an unbeaten 95* off 194 balls.

6.    Australia came down hard in the form of Cummins who claimed his five wickets of the innings but the damage had already been done by the South Africans.

7.    It was now Australia’s turn to show they batting strength as their openers walked down on the field with the aim to at least score close to the oppositions total.

8.     Australian openers Matthew Renshaw and Joe Burns had to provide their team with a good start but Rabada and Philander had other plans as their timely strikes reduced Australia to 38/3 in 13 overs.

9.    The absence of their key players was absolutely having a devastating effect on Australia and South Africa was simply getting the reward of their persistence.

10.  Nevertheless, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh proved their mettle and shared a 52-run partnership to steady Australia’s ship.

11.    But after Khawaja got out two more wickets followed in the form of Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh as Australia lost three wickets in a span of 6 runs. Philander took Khawaja and Morkel and Maharaj took out the Marsh brothers.

12.  The day was coming to an end and South Africa searched for one or two more wickets but Tim Paine and Pat Cummins saw the day off and Australia finished the day on 110/6.

13. It was surely South Africa’s day as they got 6 wickets after only conceding 110 runs and now have a lead of 378 runs over Australia. The Africans will look to take the last four wickets before Australia reach 200 and maybe enforce the follow-on.

14.  Australia, on the other hand have only one option to come back into this match and that is to bat till 350 which is looking quite bleak at this point.

15. Nevertheless, it was an exciting day of cricket, do join us tomorrow for some more action.

D Elgar

AK Markram

HM Amla

AB de Villiers

F du Plessis (c)

T Bavuma

Q de Kock

VD Philander

KA Maharaj

K Rabada

M Morkel

JA Burns

MT Renshaw

UT Khawaja

Peter Handscomb

SE Marsh

MR Marsh

TD Paine (c) (Wkt)

PJ Cummins

MA Starc

NM Lyon

JR Hazlewood