Dean Elgar scored a fifty for South Africa. (Source: AP)
South Africa pretty much owned the first two sessions of the day with the main feature being Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar defying the pacers. While the runs kept coming at a steady tick in the first session and the early part of the second, the ball started swinging and Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins rained it in. Yet, despite their best efforts Amla and Elgar remained resolute and both ended up getting half centuries. Amla didn’t last long in the third session though and his wicket opened a floodgate of sorts. Soon Elgar, Faf du Plessis and Theunis de Bruyne were all back in the hut. Nathan Lyon got rid of Quinton de Kock. De Villiers stitched a partnership with Vernon Philander to take Proteas to 263/7 at stumps, leading Australia by 20 runs.
South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test, Day 2 highlights:
STUMPS ON DAY 2: South Africa reach 263/7 at the end of Day 2, leading Australia by 20 runs. AB de Villiers remain not out on 74*. The third day promises to be an action packed event with South Africa looking to extend lead and bowl out Australia as quickly as possible. This Test is far from over.
Vernon Philander smacked that one for a boundary and it brings up 250 for the home side. Mitchell Starc tried to bait he batsman with full and wide delivery and Philander slashed the ball without any feet movement to get it over.
South Africa have levelled the score with 3 wickets still in hand. AB de Villiers is still in the middle and he has been the difference maker today for the home side. Meanwhile, Australia have taken the new ball.
WICKET! Nathan Lyon gets a wicket and it is Quinton de Kock who is gone for 9. Terrific delivery from him. Good pace and perfect amount of flight. Deceived the batsman. SA 227/7
De Villiers hits three fours off the very next over bowled by Pat Cummins. It is him and Quinton de Kock in the middle now, more than capable of staging a counter but this little spell has hurt the Proteas.
And another! They truly are unravelling now, seaming delivery that comes back in, struck his pad. Replays show that impact is umpire's call, which was out. De Bruyn didn't review though. South Africa have gone from 153/2 to 183/6
Another one bites the dust and this time it's the captain. Du Plessis does review it, replays show it has gone in between bat and pads bang in front of leg stump. That's three reds and a review lost for South Africa
Well, the band issue seems to be bigger than it seemed. They were intially asked to stop playing by the umpires but they returned and started making a din again. The umpires have got together to have a chat about it and even the match referee has come downstairs to deal with the issue. For now, they are getting along with the game
Another! This time it des take the edge and the keeper has taken it. The ball is dong all sorts of things now. Elgar takes a poke at it but it moves away from him like an off break and his innings too comes to an end
And finally he has to depart. A hell of a delivery, full outside off, beats the edge and uproots the off stump. Celebrations all around from the Australians. They have been made to work for this one.
Well how about that for a session. Amla and Elgar held on as the pacers rained in the inswingers. You have to feel for Starc and co. they really have put their backs into it but the South Africans have been resolute in their defence. Meanwhile, a little side story in the stadium - a band that was playing in the stands were reportedly asked to stop their music and the fans in the stands didn't take it too kindly. They have were chanting "We want the band!" towards the end of the session which is understandable considering the fact that the run rate at the time had trickled down to about one run per two overs. A bit of the good type of banter for a change, instead of the filthy, below the belt stuff we have seen so far
There hasn't been too many runs but the pacers have been raining it in and the two batsmen have just blocked them off. Steve Smith seemed to have hurt his fingers while fielding but he hasn't gone off the field.
Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are reigning in the inswingers and have stemmed the flow of runs. There are long lines of deliveries between each single now but Amla and Elgar are holding strong. These two do know how to stick it out, Indian fans would remember from the way they provided resistance on that treacherous Wanderers pitch just over a month ago against India. As long as they are out there, South Africa have the upper hand.
South Africa are 115/2 and trail by 128 runs, Elgar is on 42 while Amla is on 32, their partnership is now worth 48 runs. It has been a show of skill from these two and Australia will be desperate to break this partnership.
End of the first session and it will be a difficult lunch for Australia to gobble. This has been a tough session for them. Little have gone their way barring the wicket of nightwatchman Rabada, who kept a good flow to the runs in his short stay at the crease. Hashim Amla has come in and done the same and South Africa have won this session fair and square
Hashim Amla is keeping the scorecard on a steady tick and has moved to 25. They are now trailing South Africa by 140 runs and this first session is shaping up well for them.
The hosts are chugging along nicely at the moment. Elgar has moved to 34 while Amla is on 14. Australia have thus far been dealing with the three pacers and have now brought Nathan Lyon into the attack
Rabada has done his job for the day, unless South Africa are dismissed cheap that is, and it is now Hashim Amla who is giving Elgar company. Amla was given LBW against Pat Cummins but he reviewed the decision and survived.
As stated before, Rabada is a tricky nightwatchman deal with. He has hit six boundaries so far and raced to 29 off 38 balls. Australia are looking quite chuffed by all the pummelling they are receiving.
Meanwhile its all calm so far onfield. Rabada and Elgar have run four runs and the latter has also managed to deposit one to the boundary, South Africa are 49/1 at the end of the first two overs of the day that were bowled by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood respectively.
This came in just before the start of the day's play: The ICC has charged Kagiso Rabada with a Level two offence for making physical contact with outgoing batsman Steven Smith. Rabada will be contesting the charge on the basis it was accidental. A hearing is scheduled for later tonight
Neither of the two sides have firmly dropped anchor and claimed a berth for their own at Port Elizabeth but South Africa have the distinct edge because of the fruits they reaped on Day 1. They managed to bowl out an Australian batting line-up that contains some nail-themselves-to-the-crease-and-bat-all-day types in their middle order. The loss of Aiden Markram may have been a sting but Kagiso Rabada showed in the series against India that he can be a tricky nightwatchman. Apart from him, Australia have the likes of De Villiers, Du Plessis, Amla and De Kock still left to deal with and only a 204-run advantage. At the same time, South Africa can put the game right back into the visitors' laps if they don't get a healthy lead. Fine margins everywhere you look.