Despite just over half of the day’s allotment of overs bowled, Australia have gotten off to another solid start in their first innings.

David Warner had a lapse in patience in the 4th over and edged to first slip, but from that point onwards, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne took control and added 135 runs between them.

Labuschagne managed to fortuitously escape with a contentious final call on what appeared to be a catch that Marco Jansen pouched at first slip. However, the reprieve wasn’t too costly as Anrich Nortje got one to explode from the pitch and get the outside edge to the keeper.

However, the platform has already been laid down, and Khawaja will look to build on from his patient half-century tomorrow.

The Proteas bowlers had to toil all day on a relatively flatter surface at the SCG, but it wasn’t a completely fruitless day on the field. They will be eyeing quick wickets to potentially curtail any prospect of another imposing score.

AUS 147/2 in 47 overs (Labuschagne 79, Khawaja 54* – Nortje 2/26)