Proteas stumble early in rain-hit first day of second Test against Australia
When stumps were drawn, South Africa were 20/2 after only 12.2 overs were bowled.
Australia's Scott Boland claimed two wickets in two balls on the first day of the rain-shortened second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George's Park. The South African team, dismissed for 20/2, had only played two short periods of cricket, during which a total of 12.2 overs were bowled before play was called off. Boland dismissed Aiden Markram for 11 with his tenth delivery, a ball that nipped in off the pitch to hit Markram's middle stump off an inside edge.
He then got David Bedingham, South Africa's leading run-scorer in the first Test, caught behind off his very first ball. Boland, making his 20th appearance in Australia's 50th Test since his impressive debut in December 2021, replaced Nathan Lyon when the Australian team opted for an all-seam attack on a pitch that was turning in the heavy, overcast conditions.
Australian captain Pat Cummins praised Boland's seam movement, accuracy, and control, praising him as a "whole package." Rain started falling shortly after the toss, delaying the game by two hours. Markram had struck two boundaries off Starc before the game was halted with South Africa on 11-0 after 5.3 overs. Boland's first ball came as the players returned in the afternoon, striking a challenging length.
Marques Ackerman was unbeaten on five, and captain Temba Bavuma was on four when rain brought the final stoppage of the day. Australia made three changes, with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada returning from a hamstring injury, replacing left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Ackerman and teammate Matthew Breetzke replaced Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne, while Ryan Rickelton took over as wicketkeeper.
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