Rain arrived to spoil the Proteas party as rain washed out the morning session of play on day five, with them chasing a series levelling win in the second test at St Geroge’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday.
The Proteas are well on top, with Australia on 156/4 in their second innings, needing 170 more runs to make the hosts bat again, but a lost session will now massively boost the visitors hopes of saving a draw.
It is very frustrating for fans, and the Proteas, after the first two days of play were heavily disrupted by rain, and the Proteas were struggling on 97/5 in their first innings at the end of day two.
But day three saw an incredible fight back, led by Proteas captain Temba Bavuma who struck a career best 179, along with assistance from Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82), helped the hosts reach a solid 425/9 declared shortly before the close on day three.
Kagiso Rabada, on his return from injury, then picked up an early wicket, leaving Australia on 3/1 overnight, before Jansen took centre stage on day four as his five wicket haul, claiming figures of 5/33, helped skittle the Aussies all out for 99 in their first innings, a deficit of 326 runs, after lunch on day four.
A more disciplined Aussie batting effort in their second innings then helped them reach the close still with a chance of saving the game, but Rabada and Harmer still managed to make inroads picking up two wickets each.
With the weather set to clear and an uninterrupted afternoon session expected, the Australian team’s survival will now likely come down to opener Travis Head (87no) staying in, and whether their most experienced batter Steve Smith, who is battling a neck injury and has been pushed down the order, can bat.
The days second session is set to get under way at 12pm.
PROTEAS: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood
--------------------------------------------------------
SPORTS PACKAGE
Watch every single ball of every Proteas match this summer with DStv’s new Sports package. Also includes the world’s best football and a Vodacom URC Match of the Week. All this for just R399 a month – click on the banner below
