BRISBANE: Australia completed a six-wicket victory within two days in the first Test against South Africa on Sunday as the Proteas crumbled on a green Gabba wicket that played into the home bowlers’ hands.

Skittled for 152 on day one, South Africa were routed for 99 shortly after tea on day two, leaving Australia needing just 34 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada claimed four quick wickets to leave Australia 24 for four in a bizarre finish but Marnus Labuschagne (five not out) and a scoreless Cameron Green survived as the hosts stumbled over the line.

By far the highest score in Australia’s second innings of 35 for four was the 19 in the extras column, as Rabada and fellow paceman Anrich Nortje pushed too hard and sent balls flying over the wicket-keeper to the fence.

Anrich’s final ball went over Green’s head for five byes to bring up the winning runs.

Australia captain Pat Cummins took 5-42 in South Africa’s second innings and seven wickets for the match, while fellow paceman Mitchell Starc celebrated his 300th test wicket with a trademark inswinging yorker that bowled Rassie van der Dussen for a duck before lunch.

But questions will be asked of a pitch that saw 19 wickets fall on day two, after 15 tumbled on day one.

It was only the second Test win in Australia in two days, the other nearly a century ago when the hosts beat the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 1930/31 series.

Australia’s batsmen handled the conditions marginally better, with Travis Head scoring a swashbuckling 92 before the hosts were bowled out before lunch for 218 in their first innings.

Head rated it one of the most challenging innings he had played. “The (Australia) bowlers did an incredible job to keep the chase low,” said Head, who was caught behind for a duck in the second innings.

Australia had South Africa at three for two by lunch, then 66 for seven by tea on day two, with only Temba Bavuma (29) and Khaya Zondo able to conjure resistance.

The pair combined for a 42-run partnership before Lyon trapped Bavuma lbw.

Zondo battled on to finish 36 not out after running out of partners.

Australia’s third seamer Scott Boland hastened the Proteas’ defeat by dismissing wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne and all-rounder Marco Jansen for ducks in three balls.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 152 (K. Verreynne 64, T. Bavuma 38; N. Lyon 3-14)

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 218 (T. Head 92, S. Smith 36; K. Rabada 4-76, M. Jansen 3-32)

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

S. Erwee c Green b Cummins 3

D. Elgar lbw Cummins 2

R. van der Dussen b Starc 0

T. Bavuma lbw Lyon 29

K. Zondo not out 36

K. Verreynne c Smith b Boland 0

M. Jansen b Boland 0

K. Maharaj c Carey b Starc 16

K. Rabada c Carey b Cummins 3

A. Nortje c Green b Cummins 0

L. Ngidi c Warner b Cummins 9

EXTRAS (NB-1) 1

TOTAL (all out, 37.4 overs) 99

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-2 (Elgar), 2-3 (van der Dussen), 3-5 (Erwee), 4-47 (Bavuma), 5-48 (Verreynne), 6-48 (Jansen), 7-64 (Maharaj), 8-69 (Rabada), 9-69 (Nortje)

BOWLING: Starc 11-3-26-2, Cummins 12.4-3-42-5 (1nb), Boland 8-2-14-2, Lyon 6-0-17-1

AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings):

U. Khawaja c Maharaj b Rabada 2

D. Warner c Erwee b Rabada 3

M. Labuschagne not out 5

S. Smith c Verreynne b Rabada 6

T. Head c Verreynne b Rabada 0

C. Green not out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, W-15) 19

TOTAL (for four wickets, 7.5 overs) 35

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Khawaja), 2-9 (Warner), 3-19 (Smith), 4-24 (Head)

DID NOT BAT: A. Carey, M Starc, P. Cummins, N. Lyon, S. Boland

BOWLING: Rabada 4-1-13-4 (5w), Nortje 3.5-0-18-0 (10w)

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2022