All-rounder Cameron Green took a career-best 5-27 as Australia ripped by way of South Africa’s fragile batting earlier than piling on late runs to grab management of the second Test in Melbourne on Monday.
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After the guests had been dismissed for 189, an aggressive David Warner, in his one hundredth Test, was unbeaten on 32 and Marnus Labuschagne was not out on 5 to steer the hosts to 45-1 at stumps on day one.
Usman Khawaja was out for one, caught behind by Kyle Verreynne off Kagiso Rabada.
Australia gained the first of three Tests by six wickets inside two days on a hostile and inexperienced Gabba pitch in Brisbane final week.
The wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was much less bowler-friendly, however captain Pat Cummins surprisingly selected to area at a venue the place toss-winning groups usually bat first.
South African skipper Dean Elgar stated he was bewildered by the choice, nevertheless it proved to be impressed in entrance of 64,876 followers with the Proteas shedding early wickets as they once more struggled towards the hosts’ bowling firepower.
After slumping to 67-5, Verreynne and Marco Jansen launched a stirring fightback in a gutsy 112-run stand.
But then Green – the second-most costly purchase at the Indian Premier League public sale final week – went on a blitz, snapping the partnership when Verreynne received an outdoor edge on 52 that Steve Smith collected.
Two balls later, Jansen was gone, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 59 off Green earlier than the big Australian bowled Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.
Green took 4-8 in the spell with the Proteas shedding their final 5 wickets for 10 runs.
Australia began the day on an excellent observe
South Africa began the day nervously, shedding Sarel Erwee and Theunis de Bruyn cheaply.
They had been surprised simply earlier than lunch when Elgar, who handed 5 000 Test runs, and the skilled Temba Bavuma departed in consecutive balls.
It left them in hassle at 58-4 and the inexperienced center order going through a frightening process.
When Khaya Zondo was out in the fifth over after lunch for 5, courtesy of a surprising Marnus Labuschagne diving catch, the finish seemed nigh earlier than Verreynne and Jansen dug in.
On a damp day, Cummins requested some looking early questions, dropping Elgar on seven off his personal bowling after which having two massive lbw shouts towards Sarel Erwee denied.
Erwee lived dangerously and was no match for native hero Scott Boland.
The seamer, who took 6-7 in the corresponding Test towards England a 12 months in the past, got here on to thunderous applause and received the breakthrough in his second over, with Khawaja taking a low catch at third slip to take away Erwee for 18.
South Africa’s batting has been below the pump not too long ago and as the senior participant, Elgar knew he needed to stick round.
But it was a grind, with the captain surviving when an inside edge off Boland despatched the ball rolling onto his stumps just for the bails to remain on, then being dropped by Nathan Lyon.
Green received Australia’s second wicket when Theunis De Bruyn tried a pull shot and wicketkeeper Carey took a straightforward catch.
Disaster then struck with a sluggish Elgar needlessly run out by Labuschagne going for a single on 26, and Bavuma fell for one subsequent ball, edging Mitchell Starc to Carey after a poor shot.
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TEAMS:
Australia
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa
Dean Elgar (captain), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
South Africa Test tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day tour match
9-12 December
Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
17-21 December
Australia beat South Africa by six wickets – The Gabba, Brisbane
26-30 December
Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
4-8 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
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