Kagiso Rabada finished with eight wickets in the match but it was not enough to save the Proteas from a six-wicket defeat to Australia inside two days of the first Test at The Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.
The fast bowler claimed four for 76 and four for 13 as a record 19 wickets fell on the second day at the venue where the hosts were bowled out for 218 in their first innings and then bowled out the tourists for 99 – their lowest total in that country post isolation and worst in more than 90 years.
It left the Australians needing just 34 to win on a bowler friendly wicket and they lost four wickets along the way to seal victory late on day two, moving 1-0 ahead in the three-match series. The second Test match begins on Boxing Day in Melbourne.
South Africa will be disappointed by the manner of defeat in Brisbane, which witnessed its highest number of second day wickets ever in what turned out to be the second shortest Test match in Australia ever. There was little captain Dean Elgar and his team could do either in difficult batting conditions as the bowlers thrived.
The home team resumed day two on 145 for five at the start, with the overnight pair of Player of the Match Travis Head (92 off 96 balls, 13 fours, 1 six) and Cameron Green (18) carrying them to 181, before Marco Jansen (3/32) removed both in the same over. Those two wickets were amongst five to fall for 37 as the opposition tail was blown away with the lead restricted to 66.
The Proteas needed to bat well in their second innings but again the green surface and Australia’s strong bowling attack applied pressure from the outset. Dean Elgar (2), Rassie van der Dussen (0) and Sarel Erwee (3) were all back in the dressing room with only five on the board.
It left all the pressure on Temba Bavuma and he found support in rookie Khaya Zondo as the pair added 42 for the fourth wicket to give their side some hope of setting a competitive target. The former was particularly impressive in reaching 29 to go with his first-innings 38, showing excellent application in what was his first Test match since playing against Bangladesh in April. He was subsequently injured, but showed good fight until falling to a Nathan Lyon ball that kept low.
Zondo, meanwhile, went on to top score with an unbeaten 36 with the tourists rolled over in 37.4 overs.
That left the hosts needing just 34, but they made heavy weather of the chase as Rabada claimed all four of the wickets to fall. Nineteen of the runs came through extras as the bowlers attacked, but in the end the lack of runs proved costly leaving South Africa to play catch-up in the series.
Proteas Test squad against Australia
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 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
04 – 08 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
