01/03Result
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018
Australia won by 118 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell StarcAustralia
01/03Result
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018
Australia won by 118 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell StarcAustralia

5.55pm: How's that for an eye-opener? Anyone in danger of nodding off towards the close will be sitting up straight now... That is stumps, a few minutes early, with SA forlornly sifting the wreckage. Four wickets fell in 14 balls there, as Mitchell Starc swung his tailender nervous-wrecking ball. In all, South Africa lost their last five for 12 runs in six-and-a-bit overs (and 7 for 70 from Faf du Plessis' dismissal), with AB de Villiers watching on at the other end. He perhaps didn't do as much as he could to shield the tail but, to be fair, his own contribution was on a completely different level to his team-mates. Only Aiden Markram joined him in passing 20, as South Africa were badgered relentlessly by this high-class Australia attack. Rememeber there was that ball change, too, after which Australia got it to reverse significantly. Anyway, Australia have secured a commanding 189-run lead and will be well placed to build on that tomorrow; Brydon's report will be updated shortly, and we've got a gallery and highlights (Indian subcontinent only) for you, too. We'll be back for more in the morning. Cheerio!

51.4
W
Starc to Morkel, OUT, knocked 'im over! Full, fast and Morkel didn't have a hope, the ball clattering off stump via his pad! Starc screams in celebration, he wraps up a five-for with a final thunderbolt to roll South Africa over as the shadows lengthen

M Morkel b Starc 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

51.3
0
Starc to Morkel, no run, length in the channel, zips through as Morkel pokes at it

Out strides Morne Morkel, the last line of defence

51.2
W
Starc to Rabada, OUT, yoinks, that's stone cold! The reverse-swinging yorker crashes into Rabada's pad and, although he reviews, this is going to be curtains! Brutal delivery from Starc, not many No. 10s in the world will keep that out... So befuddled was Rabada that he must have thought he got some bat on it, but not a chance. Smashing into middle and leg

K Rabada lbw b Starc 3 (6m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

"Is everyone forgetting a certain Mr V. Philander's first Test? I believe the first innings deficit was around 188..." recalls Ben, correctly

51.1
2
Starc to Rabada, 2 runs, over the wicket to Rabada, pitched up in the channel and driven, timed nicely for a couple

END OF OVER:
51 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 160/8

  • Kagiso Rabada1 (3b)
  • AB de Villiers71 (127b)
  • Josh Hazlewood13-5-31-1
  • Mitchell Starc10-3-32-3
50.6
1
Hazlewood to Rabada, 1 run, fired in full, Rabada clips it off his toes to midwicket and they scamper through - so he'll keep the strike. I can see this going wrong again
50.5
0
Hazlewood to Rabada, no run, full and angling across, Rabada has an airy swipe that fails to connect
50.4
0
Hazlewood to Rabada, no run, stays over the wicket, touch short outside off and jabbed down from the crease

Kagiso Rabada in at No. 10

50.3
W
Hazlewood to Maharaj, OUT, timbeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Hazlewood plucks out off stump! Australia are running amok, Maharaj completely kippered by a heat-seaking delivery that demolishes his resistance, big gap between bat and pad as he hung back tentatively. Not sure AB's trust was warranted

KA Maharaj b Hazlewood 0 (5m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

50.2
0
Hazlewood to Maharaj, no run, length ball, rising up as Maharaj jumps into line and blocks

"Still confident, Kunal?" wonders James

50.1
1
Hazlewood to de Villiers, 1 run, shortish and worked off the hip for one - no protecting the tail here

AUS tour of SA 2017-18 News

Markram's mark

2

No. of fourth-innings centuries in Durban since 1992, including Markram's in this match. The only other was Herschelle Gibbs' 104 also v Aus in 2002. SA had chased down 335 in that Test.

Rare dismissal for ABD

6

Instances of AB de Villiers being run out in Tests. This was his first such instance since Oct 2013. It's also his first duck in 39 Test innings v Australia

Tough for SA

370

The highest 4th-innings total in a Durban Test since South Africa's return to Test cricket. SA made that score v Australia in 2009, in a Test they lost by 175 runs

Maharaj's marches ahead

0

No. of SA spinners to take more than six wickets in a Test at Durban since readmission before this Test. Keshav Maharaj has taken nine in this match.

Bancroft gets one

2

No. of 50s for Cameron Bancroft in his 10 Test innings, including the one in the second inns of this Test. He hasn't crossed 30 in rest of the 8 inns.

Warner in SA

90.50

David Warner's average in Tests in South Africa, before this match. In the 2013-14 tour he had scored 543 runs in three Tests with three centuries and two fifties. He's got to another fifty in this match.

Smith's Streak

5

No. of consecutive 50+ scores for Steven Smith in Tests, including his 56 in this inns. He had scored 239, 76, 102* and 83 in last two Ashes Tests before this series.

Home disadvantage

0

No. of Test series wins for South Africa against Australia at home since readmission. They have played 7 series in SA of which Aus won 5 and 2 were drawn.