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+--- Thread: 1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 (/thread-38250.html)
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - chairman - 03-01-2018
Can South Africa break the home disadvantage?
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - chairman - 03-01-2018
It wasn't exactly a whimper, but neither was it much of a bang. Perhaps low-key is the best way to describe the opening day of the series at Kingsmead. Durbanites didn't flock to the venue, and what the vast majority of the city missed was a couple of half-centuries from Steven Smith and David Warner, a few fifty partnerships, five wickets, and a day that was shortened by 14 overs due to bad light. It was a day without a runaway winner, though South Africa will probably go to bed slightly happier.
Play ended with Australia on 225 for 5, with Mitchell Marsh on 32 and Tim Paine on 21. Like most of the Australians before them, they had made starts, but nobody yet managed to push on to an influential score. South Africa's bowling was consistent and admirable, and there were two wickets each for Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj, and one to Kagiso Rabada. Their catching was sharp, though their reviewing was awful. Having lost the toss, they would be comfortable with their position.
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - chairman - 03-01-2018
More people in the national Anthem line-up than in the stands.
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - chairman - 03-01-2018
[img ]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXMAu9FWkAAdUqP.jpg[/img]
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - bobby - 03-02-2018
South Africa's bottom five have crumbled. Australia's bottom five put them in a position from where they will win this test. Has to be the best bowling unit in world cricket currently.
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - ketchim - 03-02-2018
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.
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - ray - 03-02-2018
Watching AB De Villiers bat against Australia.This guy can seriously bat. He picks up the line and length so quickly against both pace and spin, that he seems to have lots of time and options to which shot he should play. This is the difference between an average player and a very great player.
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018 - ketchim - 03-03-2018
Lead is 400 runs with 1 wicket to go and 2 days remaining
Saffies staring down the barrel of a huge 4th inning run chase !
it's doable but Faf and Hashim and Quinton hav to show up ~