Just how morning shows the day, the first two days of the Johannesburg Test is just showing how much despair lies ahead of the Aussies following the sandpaper-gate incident. As South Africa skittled a hapless Australian side, one thing was clear and that was the absence of the “disgraced trio” who are the three pillars of the team when it comes to piling pressure on the opponent with a mammoth total on the board.

After scalping the last four wickets of the Proteas on day-2, Australia batted for 38 overs until the umpires called the stumps. The Kangaroos ended up losing 6 wickets while adding only 110 runs to the scoreboard.

Before that, South Africa’s Temba Bavuma was denied a ton as his team got all-out at 488 runs. He remained unbeaten on 95 runs and fought like a lone-warrior to help his team add 171 more runs to their previous day’s score.

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins took two wickets each on Saturday and took their tally to three and five wickets, respectively, in the 1^st innings. Debutant Chadd Sayers bagged the other two wickets on Friday.

Vernon Philander struck thrice to strangle the toothless Aussies who will indeed have to work enough to at least reach Aiden Markram’s individual score of 152 runs. Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Morne Morkel also picked up a wicket each for the rainbow nation.

No one from the Australian camp could stand firm in front of South Africa’s bowling attack as only two of their batsmen went on to reach the double-digits. Usman Khawaja picked up his half-century before returning to the pavilion and posted 52 runs on the scoreboard. Shaun Marsh, on the other hand, managed to get only 16 runs to his name before leaving the crease. The team's skipper Tim Paine will resume the third day's game alongside Pat Cummins.

 

Score:

Day-2

RSA - 488/10