Australia fast bowler Scott Boland took two wickets in two balls before rain interrupted the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, leaving South Africa struggling at 20 for 2 as early stumps were called on Sunday.
Australia, unchanged except for Boland replacing Nathan Lyon, won the toss and put South Africa into bat. However, the covers went back on immediately after the toss due to overnight rain. Play finally began two hours late, but persistent coastal drizzle and overcast skies led to multiple interruptions. Boland struck quickly, bowling opener Aiden Markram for 11 before trapping David Bedingham lbw for a golden duck with the very next delivery, edging the ball to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
By the time rain forced an early lunch break, South Africa was 11 without loss. The rain returned about 40 minutes after lunch, halting play again with debutant Marques Ackerman on 5 and captain Temba Bavuma on 4. The conditions worsened, and umpires called stumps nearly two hours before the scheduled close, after only 12.2 overs had been bowled on what was a rain-affected opening day.
The weather forecast suggests more disruption on Monday, with an 80 per cent chance of rain and morning thundershowers expected. Cloudy skies and breezy coastal winds will likely delay the start of play again, although cricket might resume after lunch. Conditions should improve from Tuesday onwards, with a lower chance of rain and sunnier intervals, allowing for fuller days of play through to the final day on Thursday.
The green pitch at St George’s Park, combined with high humidity above 90 per cent and moisture trapped by covers, is expected to favour Australia’s pace attack. Alongside Boland, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are likely to extract swing and bounce, keeping pressure on the South African batters.
Match officials have the option to add up to 30 minutes at the end of each day and bring forward start times to recover some of the 77.4 overs lost on day one. This will be important as both teams look to force a result in what could be a shortened Test.
South Africa’s batting faces a stern test in these conditions. Ackerman and Bavuma were at the crease when rain ended play, and the pair will need to weather the early moisture to give their side a chance. The forecast suggests batting will become easier from Tuesday, which could benefit any batsmen who survive the initial challenging conditions.
Australia entered the second Test with momentum after a 214-run victory in Durban. Boland’s early strikes have added to their psychological edge, and the visitors will be keen to seize the advantage before the weather further limits play.
The stage is set for a tense battle with the weather a significant factor. How much cricket can be played over the next four days will depend largely on whether the coastal low-pressure system moves away as predicted. Meanwhile, South Africa must hope their batsmen endure the tough conditions and start building a foundation before the forecast brightens.
According to Yahoo Sports.
