South Africa v Australia – 2nd Test – 1st Days Summary
South Africa 266 (71.0 ov) v Australia - South Africa won the toss and elected to bat
On Thursday, November 17, 2011 South Africa suffered batting collapse on the first day of the second Test against Australia due to which they could only bolster 266 runs at the end of the day’s play at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
South Africa who are citing a series win against Australia at home after winning the first Test by eight wickets at Newlands, Cape Town. If the Proteas succeed in winning the series, it will be a feat achieved for the first time since their readmission in international cricket in 1992.
However, the first day was not encouraging for the hosts as the tourists Australia made sure not to let South Africa take off to a flying start.
After winning the toss, South African captain Graeme Smith chose to bat first in a bid to post a staggering total on the board.
However, the fearless South African skipper became the first causality of the day when after scoring just 11 runs he was caught by Australian skipper Michael Clarke at second slip off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson. At the time of this wicket, the Proteas had amassed only 24 runs.
Then in the 15th over disaster struck against when opener Jacques Rudolph was caught behind off the bowling of Shane Watson after clobbering a 30-run knock. By this time, the hosts had posted 43 runs on the board and things were still pretty much within their grasp as there was plenty of batting yet to come.
South Africa’s top batsmen Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis then took charge as the duo batted splendidly against the opponents. The two batsmen took the score to 123 runs before Kallis lost his wicket on the penultimate delivery of the 29th over.
The phenomenal batsman found his way back to the pavilion after playing a nifty innings of 54 runs.
A few overs later, the Aussies also saw the back of Amla who departed after crafting a 19-run knock.
With both Amla and Kallis back in the pavilion, South Africa launched another rebuild process as AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince exhibited outstanding class as the two smacked the Aussies all around the park.
At the time when the two were on the crease South Africa looked in a commanding position while the Australians seemed in a spot of bother as they desperately needed to break the partnership to get back in the match.
The duo posted 112 runs in the 5th wicket-partnership as they left the Aussies in ruins. However, luck then ran out of the home team as Australia finally managed to grab the wicket of Prince (50) followed by the wicket of de Villiers who departed after scoring 64 runs. By this time South Africa had successfully posted 243 runs on the board.
However, they soon learned that they were against Australia a team that never lets an opportunity slip away as the tourist incinerated the remaining batsmen reducing the South Africans to 266 runs at stumps.
From Australia pacer Peter Siddle bagged three wickets, while Nathan Lyon and Michael Clarke grabbed two wickets a piece.
Tags: