Good morning and welcome to Day 3 of the first test between South Africa and Australia, where the Proteas find themselves staring down a bouncer after Australia seized control of the match on Day 2.
After winning the opening exchanges on Day 1, South Africa watched the momentum swing harder than a new-ball outswinger as Matthew Renshaw played an innings for the ages. The Aussie No 5 piled on a magnificent 190, steering his side into a commanding position and leaving the Proteas with plenty to chew on overnight.
There was still plenty to admire from the home side. Wiaan Mulder kept striking at crucial moments with a superb four-wicket haul, while the returning Anrich Nortje cranked the speed gun into overdrive. The tearaway quick was breathing fire, serving up thunderbolts that reminded everyone exactly what South Africa had been missing.
But just when the Proteas looked ready to walk off relatively unscathed, Australia struck a late blow before stumps. That wicket may prove to be the day's golden nugget, leaving South Africa on the back foot and with a mountain of runs to climb.
Can the Proteas dig in and bat Australia out of the game, or will the Baggy Greens tighten the screws and bowl themselves towards victory? Day 3 promises to be a session-by-session arm wrestle.
Stay tuned. The game is finely poised, and one big partnership could yet change the spin of this tale.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Nicolas Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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