South Africa has surged into ascendancy in the second Test against Australia after captain Temba Bavuma led a spectacular batting rearguard on day three.
Beginning the day at 5-97 and on the ropes, Bavuma’s 179 helped guide South Africa to 9-425 declared.
Bavuma was aided by the lower order runs of Simon Harmer (82) and Marco Jansen (85) while the Australian bowlers toiled through a difficult a fruitless day.
Bavuma’s fifth Test century is the best of the skipper’s career, full of fight and resilience and plenty of class.
Marco Jansen hit back with some stunning strokes on the third morning. (Getty Images: Richard Huggard)
It was the arrival of Jansen at the crease that kickstarted South Africa. Coming in at 6-110, Jansen immediately took the attack back to Australia and from there the hosts never looked back.
Jansen was on track for a maiden Test ton, but was caught at midwicket off the bowling of Scott Boland in his first over with the second new ball.
It was Boland’s (5-81) fifth wicket of the innings, and it came only a few deliveries after Jansen had been struck in the box and brought to his knees.
Harmer too stared down the prospect of a first Test ton, but his stellar knock was ended by Marnus Labuschagne, clean bowled in the pursuit of quick late runs.
Bavuma was caught behind from the bowling of Mitchell Starc with half an hour left in the day, and his subsequent declaration set the Australians up for a difficult stint with the bat.
Australia’s day only got worse when Nic Maddinson fell in the first over of that mini-session, edging Kagiso Rabada to the slips for another duck.
Bad light meant South Africa had to turn to spin for the final overs of the day, and Travis Head and nightwatchman Boland reached the close at 1-3.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
South Africa vs Australia
Stumps: Australia 1-3 (Boland 2, Head 1)
Yes, the South Africans have had enough of wasting the new ball and are heading to the sheds.
Temba Bavuma is given a standing ovation from the crowd and he is afforded the honour of leading the team off a few steps ahead of the rest of them to accept that applause.
“Definitely one of my better ones,” he tells SuperSport as he walks off the pitch.
He’s got that right.
It’s been his day.
It’s been South Africa’s day.
What will tomorrow bring?
I guess we’ll find out then.
Thanks for being with us this evening folks, from myself Simon Smale, Dean Bilton and Henry Hanson, we’ll be back tomorrow.
4th over – Harmer continues
I think I’d head to the dressing room if I were South Africa. Every over that this new ball is being bowled by the spinners, it is losing a bit of hardness. It’s being wasted.
The crowd accumulates around Boland, who defends the first into the ground in front of him.
He defends the next back to Simon Harmer.
Nice flight from Harmer, but Boland drives him straight back and he is going to run two! That’s a great shot from Boland.
Nice flight from Harmer, well defended by Boland.
Boland defends the next nicely too. Good wobble through the air there from Harmer.
Boland defends solidly.
Technically we have six minutes of cricket remaining. But surely South Africa will either push to say they want their quicks on, or give it all up for the day.
3rd over – Markram is thrown the ball
It has to be a light thing – but that stinks for South Africa.
Stinks for Nic Maddinson too, to be honest. The light isn’t worse than it was 5 minutes ago when he was facing a fired up Rabada.
Head cuts but can’t score a run, great fielding at backward point.
Head is so keen to cut, but Markram has straightened his line.
A slip and bat pad in place, as Head pushes to cover.
Head pads up to a ball that pitches outside off and stays on the line outside off.
2nd over – Simon Harmer has the ball in his hand!
Extraordinary! The offy is having a bowl! Is it a light thing? Surely South Africa wouldn’t have chosen this as an option?!
I don’t like it. It’s either too dark to play or the quicks can bowl.
Head gets off strike straight away, clipping off his pad just close to bat pad.
In comes the field, a man forward of the crease on the on and off side, a leg slip and an orthodox slip.
Boland in the firing line. He defends well. This is good batting.
Boland survives five balls with real composure and class.
1st over – In comes the night watchman
Scott Boland comes in to face Rabada.
He is sauntering out at snail’s pace. Understandably too. It’s dark. He’s been out in the field and bowled 29 overs. And Rabada has his tail up.
He will have two balls to face this over – and there are SIX slips! Oh god you love to see it.
Boland defends solidly in the gloom.
And another solid defensive shot from Boland to groans from the crowd.
EDGED! TAKEN! MADDINSON HAS TO GO!
A dream start for South Africa!
Nic Maddinson plays well away from his body at a wide one, gets a thick edge straight to Simon Harmer at third slip!
That’s poor stuff from an opening batter, you just don’t need to be playing that shot at that delivery so early in your innings.
He departs for a four ball duck.
Australia 1-0.
1st over – Kagiso Rabada
The South Africans have been waiting three days to see him bowl – and you’d expect that they’ll be as fired up as he is with the ball in his hand now.
Good pace outside off, wide of Maddinson and he doesn’t have to play.
BEATEN! That’s a beauty, the ball flying past the tentative prod of Maddinson through to the keeper.
Solid defence from Maddinson there.
South Africa will have 11 overs
This is an awkward period for the Australian openers to face.
There is 11 overs due, but it will be less than that, with 21 minutes to play.
South Africa declares at 9-425
The declaration comes.
A brilliant batting display from the South Africans comes to an end.
They would have feared a shellacking when they were 5-down before reaching three figures.
But their skipper has stood tall and delivered them a very good total.
EDGED! BAVUMA IS OUT!
Starc strikes first ball of his spell!
The Australians come from all over the field to shake the hand of Temba Bavuma, out of 179 off 334 balls.
It’s the second highest Test score on this ground by a South African. It’s his highest Test score.
And it’s Alex Carey’s 200th Test catch.
128th over – Mitch Starc comes into the attack
Kagiso Rabada is the new man in, but he’s at the non-striker’s end, standing next to where Mitch Starc is going to come steaming past him in a hot minute.
BOWLED HIM! MARNUS STRIKES!
Oh Simon Harmer will be kicking himself!
He has taken a big old heave at a ball that was destined for off stump and has been castled by the part timer.
His chance of a maiden Test century comes to an end – and you do wonder how many more chances he might get.
He’s out for 82 off 157 balls, a brilliant innings in support of his skipper.
South Africa are 8-425.
And they’re batting on…
127th over – Labuschagne is bowling again
Maybe they gave him the ball on the proviso that he promises to stop appealing from stupid positions on the pitch?
Bavuma gets off strike immediately.
Harmer clips off his pads. Marnus obviously didn’t get the memo because he has made another exasperating noise after a very bog standard delivery that was easily dealt with.
Bavuma pushes into the leg side and is going to take a couple this time – Harmer running well.
Quick single from Bavuma after he guides a ball down to third man.
Harmer swings and misses. There is a bit of turn there for Marnus.
126th over – Webster continues
FOUR! Short and smashed away through midwicket by Bavuma. Horrible ball, way to slow to challenge Bavuma, and he dealt with it easily.
That’s Bavuma onto 173, his highest score in Test matches.
Bavuma pushes to backward point and gets a single to further increase his highest Test total.
Harmer slashes across the line and will get a single out to deep square leg. Ugly looking shot to be honest.
The batters in the dressing room are still padded up.
BEATEN! What a ball from Webster! Marnus appeals, presumably because he’s bored, but that was a mile away from the outside edge. Good ball though.
Bavuma pushes on the up to deep cover for a single.
125th over – Maddinson comes into the attack again
Bavuma takes a single out to deep cover.
FOUR! Horrible ball from Maddinson, way too short and Harmer pulls hard to square leg for another boundary, moving him to 79.
Another single for Harmer, pushing into the off side as Maddinson again drops short.
That’s a better ball from Maddinson, Bavuma fending to square leg. He takes a quick single and there could be the potential for an over throw there, but they say no.
Harmer, on 80, sees out the rest of the over.
124th over – Webster comes back into the attack
Part timers have been told to rest up, Webster has been given enough rest.
Single straight up for Bavuma.
400 up for South Africa
FOUR! Harmer cuts beautifully, the Aussies may have felt that it was a bit edgy and they’d have a point, but it was a safe shot.
Eyes on the South African changing room – and the number nine and 10 batters are still padded up. Hold that declaration horse for a bit longer, people.
Harmer tries to cut but the ball beats the underside of his bat and it’s taken by Carey, who is standing up. Smith, as a result, is very fine at first slip, with a gully in place as well.
BIG SHOT! Harmer has had enough and he has started swinging! A big heave across the line, the ball goes way up in the air and plugs in the outfield at long on. They run a couple.
A change in intent for the South Africans and perhaps actions in the middle are suggesting that time is nigh for this innings one way or another.
BEATEN! Harmer tries a little flick outside off and the ball nestles in the gloves of Carey.
Harmer fends to mid wicket to end the over.
123rd over – Renshaw is thrown the ball
Wow, they really are sharing it about from this end.
Matt Renshaw comes in, Bavuma pushing away for a single.
FOUR! Short from Renshaw, sits up nicely for Harmer to smash the ball to cow corner for a boundary.
150 partnership
Anything more than 150 will be the record eighth wicket partnership in Tests for South Africa. This pair are rolling on nicely, Australia have put the cue back in the rack, giving the part timers all the overs from this end. They want a declaration, it seems.
Harmer gets a couple next ball.
And then he takes a single.
Bavuma doesn’t fancy Renshaw much and cuts away for a single.
And finally a dot ball to end the over as South Africa are 7-399.
122nd over – Hazlewood continues
And Bavuma gets a single straight away.
Harmer chops down on the ball. There’s no run, as the sun comes out, the dark clouds staying away for now.
Hazlewood fires down a yorker and Harmer digs it out.
FOUR! Short from Hazlewood, Harmer is quickly onto the length and he pulls it over the head of midwicket and away to the boundary.
Solid defence ends the over.
121st over – Marnus bowling his leggies!
There’s a bit of turn there for Marnus, the ball going away from Bavuma.
Bavuma reaches for the next ball, driving to cover expansively for no run.
Now he cuts off the back foot and takes a couple down to deep backward point. I think he wanted more. Marnus certainly did, carrying on like he almost got the better of the South African skipper.
Bavuma pushes to mid off for a single.
Rank full toss from Labuschagne but Harmer can’t take advantage, slapping the ball to mid off.
Now Marnus drops short and Harmer cuts to backward point.
Not particularly consistent there from Marnus.
I wonder who is going to get a chance at this end next over? Seems to be a bit of a free for all to be honest…
120th over – Hazlewood carries on
APPEAL! Hazlewood raps Harmer on the pads, doesn’t appeal much but there is interest behind the stumps. Not enough to warrant using the last review though and I think that’s a good call. Looked up-ish to me – which has been proven by the TV graphics.
Harmer deflects a rising ball past the slips and down to third man – he’ll run three.
Bavuma pushes to point for a single. Easy does it for Bavuma.
One slip and a gully, Harmer pushes the ball in the opposite direction to mid on for no run.
Harmer drives to cover, where Marnus makes a very good stop. No run.
Getting dark out there… Harmer defends the last.
119th over – Nic Maddinson comes into the attack
The brains trust have come together at drinks and decided to try some left arm spin.
Bavuma drives to mid off for no run, looking to attack the part timer.
He pushes the next off the back foot to mid on for no run.
This time he gets a single, an easy out with a push out to deep cover.
Harmer defends.
Doesn’t look like there’s much turn out there…
Harmer beats mid on with a slapped drive across the line and takes a single.
Bavuma goes back and defends deep in his crease to a ball that does not deviate from the line much at all, skidding on if anything.
118th over – Josh Hazlewood is back!
Poor lad’s not been well, but he’s fronting up and is going to try a couple of overs here to assist his skipper somewhat.
Harmer defends the first, likes what he sees and takes a couple from the second ball, just a push into the point region.
There is one slip and one gully, as Harmer fends a ball that seemed to come back a touch off the seam, taking a single to midwicket.
Solid shot from Bavuma, he drops and runs a single to point.
Harmer fends the next to mid off and there is no run.
There is going to be a drinks break though, as the red cart comes onto the field with two South African flags billowing behind it.
117th over – Webster continues
Military efficiency from Webster, who will never be mistaken for a strike bowler, but he sure is hard to get away.
Harmer is defending solidly but takes a single with a slightly streaky shot through the vacant gully region to third man.
Just the single from the over as Bavuma defends.
Those clouds over the ocean are starting to look a bit threatening, truth be told…
116th over – Boland continues
QUICK SINGLE! Oh that’s clever from Bavuma, he’s refused to be bogged down at any point in this innings, looking to score off the first ball of the over no matter what and he steals a quick one there. Australian heads dropping a bit perhaps, a bit slack from the Aussies.
SIX! Simon Harmer SMASHES that ball over deep square leg! It was too short from Boland, and Harmer made no mistake and capitalised on the gift that was presented to him. A massive six and that moves him to 49. Definitely learned that at Chelmsford.
He defends the next, and then looks for that milestone single with a clip off his pads but that would have been a very unwise run to take…
Not this one though!
FIFTY FOR SIMON HARMER!
He is no stranger to batting milestones in first class cricket – he has 36 fifties and two tons (one for Essex, one for Eastern Province) from his 253 first class matches.
But he’s never before reached the mark in Test matches. Superb.
He’s clipped it nicely off his hip to deep backward square and raises the bat to the crowd, who are singing and dancing in the aisles.
115th over – Webster continues
Harmer defends Webster’s first delivery of the over.
Then he drives to wide mid on, no run scored but a positive push from the 37-year-old.
He defends the next too – Webster not giving much away at the moment, Carey standing up which limits his options in truth, but he’s holding a solid line and length here and just keeping Harmer in check.
A maiden for Webster.
114th over – Scott Boland comes into the attack
He replaces the skipper, and starts on target to Bavuma.
Bavuma fends into the off side and takes an easy single to cover.
Both of South Africa’s next two batters are still padded up, in case anyone was thinking about a potential declaration being imminent.
Harmer shows all the poise and technique of a top order batter as he defends Boland’s deliveries with consummate ease.
And as if to prove the point that this bowling is nothing special to Harmer, he easily guides one off his pads for a single to steal the strike.
113th over – Webster has another
I wonder if a spinner would have done well on this pitch… food for thought, perhaps.
FOUR! Bavuma goes BANG! A huge shot across the line to wide long on and it bounces a couple of times for a boundary.
Bavuma leaves a tight one outside off next up, Carey up at the stumps takes well.
Bavuma gets bat on ball for the next couple of balls that are on the stumps before letting the next drift past into Carey’s gloves.
The cloud looks low, and the floodlights are on.
Good yorker from Webster but Bavuma clips it into the leg side for a single, eyes wide as saucers and seeing the ball in slow motion at the moment is the South African skipper.
112th over – Cummins carries on
SHOT! FOUR! Too wide from Cummins, Bavuma cuts brilliantly just forward of Cooper Connolly at backward point for a boundary. That’s great cricket from Bavuma, who moves to 149.
Bavuma defends a couple that Cummins gets onto the stumps.
Two slips and a gully, Bavuma cuts and can’t time it nearly as well as he did earlier in the over and there’s no run as point fields.
A single for Bavuma and that’s going to bring up the 150!
150 for Temba Bavuma
It’s come off 299 balls, he’s had to grind it out, but he’s done incredibly well. What an innings from the skipper. Incredible.
Cummins ends with a bouncer for Harmer.
111th over – Webster continues
Hello folks.
We must be desperate for a wicket, if I’ve been thrown the blogging reins.
But what an innings this has been from this pair.
Temba Bavuma has been incredible, a century of the highest quality just when his country needed it from him.
And Simon Harmer has provided more than ample support. This partnership is over a century and comfortably the highest eighth wicket stand for the Proteas against Australia.
Harmer leaves the first and cuts the second away for a single to deep point – he moves to 42 off 97 balls.
Bavuma fends down the pitch and steals a run as well, clever running from the skipper, as he moves to 145 from 294 balls.
Solid defence from Essex legend Harmer there as he comfortably eyes up the rest of Webster’s over.
110th over – Cummins to try again
Bavuma gets a rising ball but plays it smartly down to extra cover for one.
IN THE AIR! Just short of Labuschagne at deep square leg. Harmer didn’t get much of that pull shot at all and was lucky it didn’t carry to the fielder in the deep.
Bavuma cuts to the sweeper, one more.
Cummins is coming around the wicket to Harmer. Bet it’s short.
It’s short. And it hits Harmer on the thigh, and he takes two leg byes. Even with the throw hitting the stumps as Harmer dived to complete the second run.
Harmer pulls away, one more. And now I’m going to pass the baton to Simon Smale. Have fun with him.
109th over – Renshaw gets another over
Bavuma, who was actually dismissed by Renshaw in Durban, clips him to fine leg for a single.
One more for Harmer through the leg side. That brings up the 100 partnership for the eighth wicket, quite incredible.
Another single for Bavuma, three from the over.
108th over – Pat Cummins will have a crack
Looks like he’s well and truly sorted out that problem with the contact lenses and he’s ready to bowl again.
Back of a length from Cummins and pulled away for a single by Harmer.
Cummins has been working exceptionally hard in this innings, steaming in and sending down plenty of threatening short balls. But he’s yet to take a wicket, and has barely created a chance either.
Two singles and a good few bouncers off the over.
107th over – Matt Renshaw is going to have a bowl
It’s about that time, we’re back into the part-time spinners.
Renshaw drops short and Harmer pulls, just for one. Now Bavuma nudges him to long on for one more.
Three singles from the Renshaw over.
106th over – Starc on his way in
Bavuma defends, Harmer thinks about a single, Bavuma sends him back in the nick of time.
Bavuma has a swipe at a bouncer but can’t make contact. In fact he’s not really landed any of those attempts since the one he put on the road yesterday.
SWING AND A MISS! That’s a bit more expansive from Bavuma. A bit of an attempted slog down the ground.
Maybe Bavuma is going to look to up the tempo here. He lofts over cover but without perfect timing, so only for two.
FOUR RUNS! Nothing expansive about that, just a gorgeous drive back down the ground for four. Looks so easy for him today.
Over bowled, six from it.
105th over – Boland bowling
Bavuma on strike, leaving alone.
Now he drops and runs a quick single to mid on.
South Africa seem intent on frustrating and wearing out the Australian quicks. Harmer’s defence is resolute.
One from the over.
104th over – Starc around the wicket again
Bavuma on strike, swaying out the way of a short one.
With an open face, Bavuma deflects Starc through backward point for one more.
Harmer pops one up off his thigh and takes the single to fine leg. It was literally off his thigh, as it turns out. A leg bye.
Starc throws one up and Bavuma drives it, again out to the off side sweeper for one more run.
Three off the over all told.
103rd over – Scott Boland to take it
Bavuma on strike, clipping off his thigh for a couple of runs.
One more to the Bavuma tally, before Harmer times one neatly through midwicket and earns three for his efforts. The Australians look tired and shorn of some spirit.
Another Bavuma single, this time to deep point.
That will be your over.
102nd over – Mitchell Starc to kick us back off
We’re back with either 40 more overs or (realistically) 2.5 more hours of play. It has been a pretty dismal day for Australia so far as South Africa first responded, then rallied then surged ahead with the bat.
Starc has the ball, Harmer has the strike.
Josh Hazlewood hasn’t returned to the field after the tea break. Clearly he’s still being troubled by something.
Harmer does nothing in that over and it’s a maiden.
Tea: South Africa 7-318 (Bavuma 125*, Harmer 30*)
Another dominant session for South Africa on day three.
Temba Bavuma receives a fair few Australian congratulations as he makes his way from the middle.
What a knock this has been from the South African captain.
He has looked so composed, so determined, and has treated the St George’s crowd to some seriously delightful shots.
It’s hard to believe it is just his fifth Test match century.
Australia in serious need of a spark after tea.
101st over – Webster with the final set before tea
It’s Temba Bavuma on strike and defending to begin the over.
Cummins has his head in his hands between deliveries. I think there’s an issue with his eye. The Australian captain is grimacing as he jogs off the oval.
Carey is back in a conventional pace-bowling wicketkeeping position as Bavuma defends once more.
Oh, pardon me — he’s decided to return to the stumps for the very next delivery.
WOW! Oh my word, I think Carey has stumped Bavuma down the leg side! We’re going upstairs but the Australians seem very confident.
Oh, that’s anticlimactic.
Bavuma was well home as Carey whipped off the bails.
Not out — but a stellar piece of wicketkeeping regardless.
One ball remains until tea.
And Bavuma is beaten outside off to end the session.
100th over – Hazlewood to Bavuma
Back of a length from Hazlewood and Bavuma is flat batting back towards the bowler.
This isn’t far off now.
This will probably be the penultimate over.
Bavuma earns a single through a sweet glide behind point.
Four! Another Hazlewood bouncer just doesn’t quite get up and Harmer plunders another boundary well in front of square.
Harmer is then shouldering arms.
A solid forward defence to end the over.
99th over – Webster again
Here comes Beau Webster once more.
Stump to stump and Bavuma is deflecting one behind point for a single.
Harmer is pushing towards mid-on for no run.
The broadcast camera cuts to vision of Smith receiving some treatment and maybe a little strapping in the Australian dugout.
Bavuma is defending to end the over.
98th over – Smith hurts his finger attempting a catch
Four! A loosener from Hazlewood and Harmer is on the back foot and pulling with authority forward of square.
Harmer works one off the hip for a single. Uncharacteristically inaccurate so far from Hazlewood in this over.
Edge! Bavuma is wafting outside off and is edging towards the cordon. Smith is at full stretch at second slip and the ball is dying just as it reaches him. He can’t complete the catch and he’s hurt his finger in attempting to.
Smith his shaking out his left hand and then running off the field to receive some treatment.
Not a good sign for the Aussies.
97th over – Webster again
Things are meandering out there right now for the Aussies.
Four! Oh gosh, that is so, so good from Temba Bavuma. He offers the full face of the bat and times his straight drive to perfection. Sensational.
Bavuma is forward and defending.
More runs! Holy moly, that’s even better from Bavuma. Full and on the pads and the diminutive magician executes a picture-perfect on-drive for another boundary.
Better from Webster to end the over, Bavuma is beaten outside off.
96th over – Captain to captain
Bouncer! And a good one from Cummins. Bavuma manages to ride the bounce and deflect it into the off-side, the ball gaining some air but falling well short of the nearest fielder.
Bavuma works a single.
Harmer cops another good one from Cummins, the ball jagging back at him from a length and hitting him on the body.
Ouch! Another nasty short one from Cummins and Harmer takes his eye off the ball as he tries to get underneath it. The Kookaburra glances off his helmet and flies for four.
Harmer looks okay but there is some support staff on the field for the mandatory concussion test.
Shot! Harmer doesn’t look groggy in the slightest as he flicks Cummins forward of square for a boundary. Excellent timing.
95th over – Bavuma survives review
Carey is up to the stumps and has two slips and a gully behind his right shoulder.
Stump to stump here from Webster.
Shout! The ball flies past Bavuma’s inside edge and Carey drops it behind the stumps.
There’s an appeal for LBW!
No one seems particularly enamoured with it, but Cummins eventually decides to send it upstairs…
The technology shows Bavuma got an inside edge on it so the Australians lose another review.
It goes down as a drop for Carey, but I don’t think he had much chance of pouching that one.
94th over – It’s Cummins to Harmer
There looks to be a few more clouds gathering on the horizon.
They don’t seem particularly foreboding, but it’s certainly a little darker out there.
Harmer is defending on the front foot and then shouldering arms outside off.
Full from Cummins and Harmer is defending with authority.
Another dot to end a maiden over.
93rd over – Here comes Beau Webster
Four! Bit of a loosener from Big Beau, and Bavuma drives through the covers with some nice timing.
Bavuma is forward and defending, looking completely untroubled against Webster’s medium pace.
Full and on the pegs, Bavuma is defending to end the over.
92nd over – Cummins steams in once more
Bavuma works a couple through the leg-side and then leaves a couple outside off.
He’s in total control right now.
There are three men next to Carey as Bavuma is defending into the off-side.
Marnus Labuschagne is moving well at cover to prevent a quick single.
A thick inside edge from Bavuma and that’s a single to end the over.
91st over – Hazlewood to Bavuma
More jag off a length from Hazlewood. The ball thuds into Bavuma’s back leg and that one certainly stung.
Bavuma squirts a single through the leg-side.
Frustration! Hazlewood prises a thick edge from Harmer but the ball flies through the gap between second slip and gully and makes its way to the rope.
Harmer is shouldering arms well outside off.
And again to end the over.
90th over continued – Cummins with five to come
Bavuma wraps up his celebrations before working a single.
Harmer is defending.
Movement! Cummins manages to jag one back towards Harmer and the batter is shouldering arms as the ball just about grazes his off stump.
A grimace from Cummins and that’s over.
Temba Bavuma goes to 100!
Short from Cummins and Bavuma pulls with authority.
The ball flies to the rope and that completes a wonderful century for South Africa’s captain.
223 balls of grit, composure and leadership.
The helmet is off and his face a picture of steely determination as he celebrates just a fifth Test-match century.
90th over – Captain to captain with Bavuma on 99
89th over – Hazlewood returns to the action
Timing! Ooh, that’s some shot from Simon Harmer. He gets high on his back foot and drives square for a boundary.
Harmer is leaving a wide length ball.
More sweet timing from Harmer but this time it’s collected at mid-off.
And he’s defending to end the over.
88th over – Bavuma moves to 99
Another drive to mid-off from Harmer and the batters complete a quick single. Good running.
Bavuma returns to strike on 98…
And he leaves it again on 99 after cutting a single through point.
Beaten! That’s a beauty from Starc, angling in from around the wicket and holding its line off the pitch. Harmer misses his drive.
A single off the hip returns Bavuma to the action.
Ooh! Short from Starc and Bavuma is loose in under-edging it back towards his body. The ball bobbles around his crease for a moment as the batters contemplate, and ultimately turn down, a single.
Swing and a miss! Bavuma goes hard at the short ball and it flies past him and through to Carey! There’s a half-appeal from behind the stumps but nothing more.
87th over – Bavuma on 98 after drinks
But it’s Simon Harmer facing up to Scott Boland, with things looking pretty overcast out there all-of-a-sudden.
Harmer is solid in pushing to mid-on for no run.
Boland finds some movement into Harmer and the batter is driving into the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Harmer is again driving straight, this time finding mid-off.
Back of a length from Boland and Harmer is pulling ever-so-sweetly, running a single to end the over.
He’ll retain strike for the next set.
86th over – It’s still Starc
Bavuma on strike, but not for long. He takes another single to the off side to move to 92.
He’ll get the strike back though as Harmer takes a single to deep point.
FOUR RUNS! Bavuma opens the face on a forward defence and glides the ball down to a wide third man region for four. He moves to 96. He’s one more of those away…
BEATEN! Now that was close. Starc comes around the wicket and nearly sniffs out an outside edge as Bavuma plays a nervous prod.
Starc gets too straight and Bavuma pushes to square leg. He takes off for one and he wants two. Head throws at Harmer’s stumps… and misses. He was out by a mile if he hit. Bavuma nearly sizzled up his partner there.
So that will be over, Temba Bavuma has to sit for a minute on 98 because it’s time for drinks. Henry Hanson will be right with you.
85th over – Boland has the ball once more
Harmer on strike, ducking below a bouncer.
SHOT! Boland has a crack at Harmer’s front pad, so Harmer whips him through square leg with disdain. Classy shot for four.
Just that delightful boundary off the over, Harmer doing a tidy job so far.
84th over – Starc in again
He’s short to Bavuma, who tries to flick away from his hip but succeeds only in gloving one to fine leg for a single. Harmer back on strike.
FIVE WIDES! Starc drops in an outrageous bouncer which sails miles over everyone, wicketkeeper included, and disappears to the fence. Five to the extras tally, and the 250 is up for South Africa.
BEATEN! Good comeback. Starc pitches up and beats the outside edge of Harmer’s driving bat. Ooh hold on, are they reviewing this? Carey is not interested at all and try to talk Cummins out of it, but the skipper and Starc reckon they’ve heard something there. Let’s have a look.
Nope, nothing at all. One day wicketkeepers will be properly respected. One day.
Harmer is finally off the mark with a bunt down the ground. And he’ll keep the strike too, that’s your over bowled.
83rd over – Boland in again
Bavuma on strike and on 89. And now into the 90s with a single to deep point. He’s edging ever closer.
Harmer is cautious and composed to begin with. He defends the rest of that Boland over comfortably.
82nd over – Mitchell Starc will take the new ball from the other end
Simon Harmer is the new batter, and he survived one ball to end the Boland over. He will now take the strike to Starc after Bavuma nudged a single out to deep point.
Starc has really struggled to get anything out of the conditions in this Test match. He’s not alone on that front, but he’s not been quite at his best.
Just as I say that, he swings one back in sharply over middle stump. That’s more like it. Over bowled.
OUT! Jansen chips one to midwicket and Boland has five!
There will be no Marco Jansen century today, unfortunately. A few balls after taking one to the unmentionables, Jansen has meekly chipped Boland straight into the waiting hands of Travis Head at midwicket.
It’s a disappointing way to end what was a pretty sensational knock from the number eight. It’s also a fifth wicket for Scott Boland, who has been by far the standout of the Australian bowlers.
A breakthrough, at last.
81st over – Scott Boland has the brand new ball
To nobody’s surprise, the umpire flashes the brand new ball towards the scorers’ box and Boland is the man to wield it. He’s got Jansen on strike on 85.
HE’S DOWN! Boland has nipped one back into Jansen and he has gone down like a sack of spuds. What has that actually hit? I don’t think it was the box, it looked like the back thigh. But I’m not sure I’ve ever seen somebody in so much pain from a whack to the leg.
Oh yeah, that has taken a healthy piece of Mini Marco on the way through. He is in all sorts here.
BEATEN! Jansen is back up and nearly nicks off from the very next ball. Boland has the new rock talking.
80th over – Webster to bowl it
The new ball will be due after this over.
BEATEN! Nicely bowled by Webster, luring Bavuma into a nibble that nearly brings an edge. Carey tidy again up to the stumps.
AND AGAIN! Suddenly, in these last two overs before the new ball, a bit is going on.
That’s your over bowled. The new ball is there if they want it.
79th over – Maddinson again
CLOSE! Jansen advances and is lucky to get the toe of the bat onto the ball to prevent a stumping. He’s got to be a bit careful here, complacency is the risk.
EVEN CLOSER! Jansen goes the big slog and is saved by a feather of an inside edge which takes the ball away from the stumps. Goodness me, that was a whisker away from a Nic Maddinson wicket.
A surprisingly eventful over. Jansen survives and closes in on a maiden Test century.
78th over – Beau Webster is bowling now
Carey is up and the Slug is wobbling a few down. Bavuma drives and takes off, kept to a single by some smart Cummins fielding at mid-off.
Couple of singles and very little else to report. I wish I had more excitement to bring you, but that is being saved for the new rock I fear.
77th over – Nic Maddinson bowling again
Maddinson is back on bowling his left-arm finger-spin, which I think is Test cricket’s version of a recession indicator.
We’re just cruising for the new ball now.
Oooh, half a shout! Jansen charged but missed, struck on the pad but not in any real danger.
Jansen goes down the ground for a single, Bavuma does likewise and a very quick over ends.
76th over – Hazlewood will continue
He’s bowling to Bavuma, who defends to the on side for no run.
FOUR! Bavuma slashes through backward point off the back foot for another boundary. He’s in total control out there.
Bavuma pull away to deep square leg now for one more, and that will end the over. All very easy for the batters.
75th over – Cummins to send a few more down
He’s still around the wicket to Jansen, still employing leg theory.
Jansen goes after the pull shot and gets a bit of it, but only enough for a single out to Maddinson on the boundary.
This pitch really has flattened right out. We’ll see if the new ball opens the bowlers anything, but it looks like dream batting conditions out there at the moment.
Bavuma pulls, controlled, to fine leg for a single.
It’s not easy to get a bouncer up to Marco Jansen’s head height, but Cummins is managing. The big man ducks underneath the final ball of the over.
74th over – Here he is! Josh Hazlewood is back
The Hoff has been on ice for a couple of days and now he’s ready for action. A little surprised they haven’t waited for the new ball, but I guess he’s probably pretty keen to get into it.
A couple of singles to begin the over. Hazlewood bang on the money already.
Just those two off the over. The big orange hammer is being run out so Hazlewood can bash up the footmarks a little bit.
73rd over – Pat Cummins will bowl
We’re back. The new ball is only a handful of overs away and we expect Josh Hazlewood will be ready to claim it when it comes. But for now, it’s time for some short stuff.
The field is spread and Cummins is coming around the wicket. These are only going one way.
Jansen has a couple of swings before defending the third ball from the back foot.
Not sure what’s happened there. Jansen tried to pull a ball that didn’t quite get up as he expected. I think it’s hit him flush on the hip bone and raced out to deep point. My word that must hurt.
Bavuma rushes through a single from the final ball of the over and around they go.
Hazlewood should be able to bowl 10 minutes after lunch
Hi, so when can hazelwood bowl?
– Peter
From my calculations, Josh Hazlewood spent about two hours and 25 minutes off the field yesterday evening and has already spent two hours and 15 minutes in the field today.
That means he should have no longer than a 10-minute wait after lunch — although Cummins way well hold him back for the new ball, which is due in eight overs.
Hazlewood poised to return to the attack
Someone may have already asked this, but why has Hazelwood only bowled five overs?
– Alan
Hey Alan — Josh Hazlewood didn’t take part in yesterday’s action due to what we believed to be food poisoning, but he has since recovered and has been out there fielding all morning.
He just isn’t allowed to bowl until he fields for the same amount of time he missed yesterday.
Big Hoff will be fast approaching that mark when we return from lunch.
Lunch: South Africa 6-216 (Bavuma 76*, Jansen 72*)
What a session that was for South Africa.
Real fire and ice stuff from Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen, who go to lunch in the midst of a 106-run partnership.
Bavuma has looked uber composed throughout his knock, while Jansen has executed his counterpunch perfectly.
119 runs for the session and, crucially, just one wicket lost by the Proteas.
Australia well and truly crying out for Josh Hazlewood to make his return to the bowling crease in the second session.
72nd over – Webster with the final over before the break
This should be the final over before lunch.
Alex Carey is up to the stumps and has a slip and a gully to his right.
Temba Bavuma on strike and defending.
Three balls remain in the session.
I don’t imagine Bavuma will be doing anything too expressive before the break.
The South Africa captain is forward and defending stoutly.
And again.
Another dot to end the session.
71st over – Now, it’s Nic Maddinson!
I wonder how Nathan Lyon is feeling right now.
This is now a time killing exercise for the Pat Cummins, with ten overs remaining until the new ball.
Bavuma is working a single to Maddinson’s skiddy left-arm orthodox before Jansen drives for a single.
Three singles from the over.
70th over – Here comes Beau Webster
Cummins must be dying for Hazlewood to be permitted back to the bowling crease.
Mustn’t be long now.
Instead, it’s Beau Webster.
He’s bowling his seamers and Bavuma is defending a couple and then working a single.
Carey is up to the stumps and Jansen is working one off the hip for a run.
The batters trade another couple singles.
And Jansen is defending to end the over.
69th over – Bavuma-Jansen partnership passes 100
Fifth over on the trot here for Renshaw.
The batters are unbothered in trading singles from the first couple balls of the set.
Another single brings up the 100-run partnership between Bavuma and Jansen.
What a superb counter punch this has been.
Pat Cummins looking a little devoid of ideas right now.
68th over – Starc to Jansen
Starc continues from over the wicket to Jansen, and he has a slip and a gully to work with as he charges in.
Jansen nudges one into the off-side and the batters are through for a quick single.
Bit of a nothing length from Starc and Bavuma is standing up and pulling forward of square for a single.
A good short one from Starc has Jansen getting his gloves out of its path.
Bang! This one doesn’t quite get up and Jansen is slogging well forward of square for a boundary.
The ball made a quite peculiar thud when it hit the bat and Jansen signalled that he had an issue straight away.
It looks like his blade has cracked up the handle.
Four of five potential replacement bats are taken out to the middle and Jansen takes a while to decide which one he wants.
He eventually does and uses it to defend out into the off-side to end the over.
That was a much more satisfying thud.
67th over – Renshaw gets a fourth
It’s Temba Bavuma on strike, and the South African captain is defending to begin the over.
Pretty good spell this from Rensahw, who is yet to offer up a real loose delivery.
And Bavuma is defending for a maiden over.
66th over – Starc goes again
Top edge! Jansen gets a short one and miscues his pull shot horribly, the ball floating high in the air from the top edge off his bat. It looks like Scott Boland hasn’t quite picked it up from the boundary and doesn’t get anywhere near the ball before it falls to turf. Boland didn’t have any chance of getting there in any case.
Jansen drives a low full toss through the covers and the batters run three.
Short again to end the over and Jansen is unable to make connection with his pull shot.
Jansen survives on review!
Quicker from Renshaw and Jansen is wafting outside off.
It’s a sharp take from Carey and the Australians are convinced they have their man.
The on-field decision is out but Jansen doesn’t hesitate in sending the decision upstairs…
And yep, with good reason.
The replays show the inside edge of Jansen’s bat had made contact with pad, not ball.
The big man survives.
65th over – Renshaw gets a third
I don’t think Temba Bavuma will mind that.
The South African captain just nudges one to long on for a single.
64th over – Starc returns
Pat Cummins turns to his premier strike bowler, and Starc is charging in from over the wicket, angling across Jansen.
The field is spread a touch but Jansen isn’t bothered — the big man flays one on the bounce to mid on before finding a diving Marnus Labuschagne at cover.
Good stop from the Queenslander.
Jansen is beaten outside off and that’s over.
63rd over – Renshaw to Jansen
Jansen strides forward and bunts Renshaw to long on for a single.
Bavuma then works a run to the sweeper deep on the off-side.
The batters trade another pair of singles.
SIX! Jansen is down on one knee and goes BANG! The South African gets every piece of it and sends the ball dead straight and hurtling towards the commentary boxes.
62nd over – 50 for Marco Jansen!
Bang on the money from Cummins and Jansen is defending from the top of off.
He’s then flicking his vigour as he defends another one into the leg-side.
Four! Now that’s a good old-fashioned slog from Jansen, who stands up and just mows Cummins to the cow corner rope.
50 for Marco Jansen! The allrounder works one off his hip and runs through for the single that brings up his fifth Test match half-century.
What a superb counter punch from the big man.
61st over – Renshaw into the attack
The man with the golden arm, Matt Renshaw, is thrown the ball for the first time at St. George’s Park.
Bavuma works a single off the first delivery of the over and Jansen’s eyes must be lighting up as he takes guard against the part timer.
But the towering allrounder is defending a couple to begin before cutting a single.
A dot to end the over.
60th over – More aggression from Jansen
Four! Jansen gets a bit of width and lashes Cummins forward of point.
This has been a very effective little counterattack from Jansen, who has now moved to 44 from 32 deliveries.
Brilliant! Cummins offers up an off-cutting yorker and Jansen is caught unaware, bringing his blade down far too late.
The ball just about shaves off stump on its way through to Carey.
59th over – Boland goes again
Two slips and a gully in place for Boland as he gets Bavuma pushing towards point. No run.
Ooft, that’s a belter of a straight drive from Bavuma. Picture perfect, but it’s stopped at mid-on.
Another sweet drive, this time through the covers, is worth two.
Shot! Gosh. Once again, that’s a beautifully timed shot. This time, Bavuma gets one angling onto his pads and drives it through mid-on for four.
Glorious.
58th over – Cummins after drinks
Hello everyone.
What a huge hour of play we have ahead of us.
If Marco Jansen can keep going, and if Temba Bavuma can stay solid, South Africa will be well in this game come lunch.
The Australians will be hopeful of a little more assistance from the pitch after drinks, though I doubt they’ll get it.
It’s captain Pat back in the attack after a rather lengthy drinks break.
Jansen is squirting a single off an inside edge before Bavuma opens the face and glides one through point for a couple.
Another smart single into cover for the Proteas captain.
BIG! Jansen takes on the short ball and that’s six! It was a bit of a top edge, in truth, but has enough to fly over the fielder on the square boundary.
Jansen flashes expressively for a couple to end the over.
57th over – Boland in again
He’s got Jansen on strike and prodding at a wide one without making contact.
Cummins has dropped himself deep at mid off now too, about halfway to the fence, as Jansen continues to absolutely moose those straight drives.
Jansen is cramped up and fends away to the leg side, where he is able to take a single.
Bavuma is watchful and he sees the over. With that they will take a drink, and I will hand you over to Henry Hanson. Enjoy!
56th over – Starc to try again
Jansen is on strike, but not for long. He takes a quick single to cover.
More good running, another sharp single to Bavuma’s tally.
There’s a sweeper on the off side for Jansen now. He takes a gentle single out to him to bring up the 150.
Starc comes around the wicket to finish up that set. Three from the over.
55th over – It’ll be Boland again
Alex Carey has moved up to the stumps to try to through Marco Jansen off his rhythm.
SIX RUNS! Is Marco Jansen the best batter in the world? Hard to argue against it right now. He has just hit Scott Boland back over his head for six with the most gorgeous check drive you’ve ever seen. This is spectacular.
Carey is sent back so Boland can try some short stuff to Jansen. It’s a long way up there, and Jansen respects the effort by leaving the ball alone.
Fun to watch at the moment! The over ends.
54th over – Starc to bowl his third
Starc is bowling to Bavuma now, and it’s a slightly different game with the skipper on strike. Bavuma and Jansen, quite the odd couple out there.
BEATEN! That’s a lovely ball. Just left Bavuma a little and nearly found the edge.
AND AGAIN! Starc is troubling Bavuma with a bit of bounce and the natural angle across him.
Turns out that second one was actually a no ball. And then the next one is a wide full toss. Starcy maybe losing his run up a little.
FOUR AND 50 FOR BAVUMA! Starc strays onto the pads, Bavuma whips it fine and celebrates a crucial half-century. A captain’s knock so far. Not done yet.
Over bowled.
53rd over – Scott Boland has switched ends
A reminder, Josh Hazlewood is back out there today but can not bowl for a few hours due to the time he spent off the field yesterday. So the quartet is a trio for a little while yet.
Boland to Jansen.
FOUR RUNS! Jansen is creaming them here. An elegant little glance off the front pad this time which races to the midwicket fence.
SHOT! Holy moly, that might be the sweetest shot I’ve seen in my entire life. How about the eight-foot tall bloke playing a Ponting-esque on-drive? That was beautiful, brings a tear to the eye.
It’s the Marco Jansen show at the moment. Eight more from that Boland over.
52nd over – Here’s Starc again
FOUR! Jansen flays at his first ball and gets a thick under-edge which squirts through the cordon for four. He’s off the mark.
BEATEN! Starc squares Jansen up and nearly takes his outside edge. Jansen is desperate for bat on ball early.
FOUR MORE! Really nicely timed from Jansen there. Just a back-foot shove through backward-point, but placed and timed well enough to earn a boundary.
AND FOUR MORE! Sheesh! The long levers of Marco Jansen unleash through a glorious cover drive! A thing of beauty from the big fella.
A single from the final ball means Jansen will keep the strike. He has 13 from his first over faced.
51st over – Cummins to try again
So as Starc celebrates his 450th Test wicket, the skipper will run in at Temba Bavuma again. The new man in at the othere end is Marco Jansen.
SHOT! Shot of the Test match so far. Can’t play a better on drive than that one from Bavuma. Straight back past Cummins for four.
Another good short one tests Bavuma there, squaring him and taking the splice of the bat. It falls safely.
The bouncer is looking Australia’s best weapon this morning. Cummins has Bavuma jumping, but crucially surviving.
Four from the over.
OUT! Mulder gets a glove on it and Starc has the breakthrough
A fantastic review from Australia. Even on those first few replays I didn’t think there was anything on that ball other than shoulder and helmet, but Ultraedge produced a little tickle of a spike as the ball was passing Mulder’s glove. It was only a slight glance, but a glance it was.
A really sharp bouncer from Starc gets the first wicket of day three. Australia needed that, just a little bit.
That’s the 450th wicket of the 36-year-old’s Test career.
50th over – Mitchell Starc into the attack
First job for the South Africans was seeing out the first half an hour today, and they’ve managed that with relative ease. Now they get a look at Starc.
These look to be beautiful conditions for batting. The pitch is lovely for batting and the ball is not swinging a jot. Starc is still searching for his radar in this opening over.
OUT? Starc has hit Mulder somewhere with a bouncer and the catch is taken by Renshaw at first slip. Was it bat or glove? Or all helmet? Not out is the call, but we’ll have a review.
I think that is all head and shoulder I’m afraid.
Wait. WAIT. Is that a little murmur on the Ultraedge as it passes the glove? I think it might be!
49th over – Here comes Cummins
Pat is a bit excited by that first ball, which is comfortably left by Bavuma. Cummins came from wider on the crease and seemed to think the off stump was in play. Not sure myself.
Good running from Bavuma, a quick single to cover. He did that particularly well last night.
Good short ball. Mulder late to react but ducks under it in the nick of time.
Nice running from Mulder now too. He drops and runs to Hazlewood at mid on, who isn’t moving particularly sharply it must be said.
Bavuma defends the final ball of the over, another one safely negotiated.
48th over – Boland to bowl it
BEATEN! There it is again, Mulder looking vulnerable outside the off stump. There’s a nick coming there.
Boland drops short and Mulder takes a couple to the men out there on the hook. It’s interesting that they are set up for the catch from a short ball instead of just peppering that outside edge. In fairness, Mulder does seem intent on playing the pull shot.
BEATEN AGAIN! Mulder might claim he played inside the line of that one. Jury’s out.
Two runs from that over. South Africa has settled into the first 20 minutes of day three pretty well.
47th over – It’s Cummins once more
BEATEN! Mulder looks a candidate outside his off stump there. He chased after Cummins that time and was lucky not to nick it.
More leg side runs though as Mulder jams down to square leg and takes the one on offer.
There’s the short one to Bavuma, and it’s a good one too. Bavuma bails out of the way at the last moment.
Just the one off the over, and Australia succeed in keeping Mulder on strike for the beginning of Boland’s next over.
46th over – Boland continues
It’s been noted on the broadcast that Boland is bowling from the slightly more comfortable end, with his run up ever so slightly downhill. Which means captain Cummins is taking one for the team and running in ever so slightly uphill.
Boland is probing a very tight line to Bavuma, getting him to play as much as possible. One ball is slightly too short though and Bavuma is able to work it off his thigh for a single.
Square leg was back on the boundary, so Mulder’s leg glance earns him an easy single.
That run means he’ll keep the strike. Two off the over.
45th over – Pat Cummins from the other end
Cummins bowled well without luck yesterday. Pace was good and the short ball looked dangerous. He’s got Wiaan Mulder on strike now.
FOUR! Mulder moves across his stumps and gets a thick inside edge down the leg side. Boland isn’t able to reel it in on the rope. Cummins won’t be concerned with that though, he’s beaten the moving batter there.
There’s the first short one, and Mulder plays a pull shot. Doesn’t time it but it takes two runs out through midwicket.
BEATEN! A little bit of shape away from Cummins, beating the prod of Mulder who is still moving across his stumps.
Six runs from the over.
44th over – Scott Boland will kick us off
Right, let’s play cricket. Josh Hazlewood is back on the field but he won’t be allowed to bowl for a while as he sat out yesterday’s session of play with what we believe to be a dodgy belly.
So it will be Boland from the top, chasing his fifth wicket. Temba Bavuma is on strike.
Boland is on the money immediately. Bavuma solid in his forward defence, as he has been for most of his innings.
That’ll be a maiden over to kick things off then. Bavuma is in this for the long haul. Let’s see if he can find some help at the other end.
Some good news and some bad news, meteorologically speaking
It’s looking like an absolutely gorgeous day right now in Gqeberha and we are certainly beginning on time.
But it ain’t all good news.
The clouds are slated to roll in during the early afternoon, and the heavens a chance to open a couple hours later.
Eek.
Boland and Starc continue to shine
Like most of us yesterday, Russell Jackson was probably sensing another wasted day as the rain fell and the water lingered on the St George’s Park surface.
But any opportunity to bowl in a Test match is one that Scott Boland and Mitch Starc won’t want to waste, and they made hay despite the fact that Josh Hazlewood was indisposed through illness.
Here’s Russell’s analysis.
Renners’ miracle grab and a traffic-stopping six
I don’t think anyone was more surprised than Matt Renshaw when he snaffled a magical catch at slip to dismiss Ryan Rickleton.
Read all about that and the other things you may have missed, here.
All eyes on the pitch
What’s the pitch looking like? Rabada could run through us if bowling conditions remain favourable…
– Simon
On last night’s evidence, I’m not actually sure there will be too many demons in this wicket. It spent most of yesterday baking under the sunlight and seemed to me to be playing pretty true for the most part. Only Scott Boland found any real sideways movement.
Of course Kagiso Rabada is going to be a problem, as he is on any pitch. But I reckon it’s more likely it flattens out for the rest of the week now.
What happened on day two?
A lot of rain started the day, then a patch of muddy ground stopped play, and then when the players did get onto the field, it was wickets that started tumbling as Australia pressed home its advantage.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
Play is starting early today
We’ve got some overs to make up, to put it lightly, so we will be starting early and finishing late throughout the rest of this Test.
Not by much though, only by 15 minutes at either end.
So the first ball today will be at 6.45pm AEDT, with an extra 15 minutes to be tacked on at the end of the third session as well. They’re aiming for 98 overs today.
Welcome to day three in Gqeberha
Hello, and welcome back to ABC Sport’s live blog coverage of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Gqeberha. We’ve arrived at day three, and the skies are bring us good news at last. Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, no fear of rain at all for today and hopefully the rest of the Test.
With the weather woes out of the way, the story is now about the pursuit of a result. Australia is in a strong position after two truncated days but will need to start strongly today if they are to set up a potential win. For South Africa, some hard graft is ahead.
I’m here, Henry Hanson is here, Simon Smale is here. We’re all here ready for another day of Test cricket, and as always we are delighted to have your company.
dan