Persistent rain in Gqeberha washed out the majority of Day 2, restricting play until the extended third session where Australian seamers maintained firm control. Following a damp morning that kept players off the field after only 12.2 overs were bowled on the opening day, continuous improvement in the weather prompted multiple pitch inspections before action finally commenced at 3.45 pm local time, six hours behind schedule. Australia managed proceedings without Josh Hazlewood, who was sidelined due to illness. But Temba Bavuma worked hard in the extended third session, even as the seamers, led by Scott Boland, headlined another dominant period of play for Australia, rain in Gqeberha ate up most of Day 2. Play finally began at 3.45pm local time, six hours from the scheduled start, a sustained period of brightness and multiple pitch inspections later. Who got off the mark straightaway, played the ideal partner to Bavuma, ryan Rickleton.
Scott Boland immediately found his rhythm, picking up where he left off after his two-in-one success on Day 1. Captain Pat Cummins supported him by restricting scoring options for Temba Bavuma and Marques Ackerman. Debutant Ackerman, aged 30, became Boland’s third wicket after edging a loose push to the slips. Meanwhile, Matthew Breetzke fell cheaply in single digits when he chased a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc. He fell in single digits too, chasing a ball angled away. The ball had to be fetched by a steward from the adjacent road.
Bavuma displayed solid technique, leaving deliveries outside his off-stump with confidence and using his feet effectively. He survived a close leg-before appeal when Boland got a wobble-seam delivery to nip back sharply. Showing rare aggression, Bavuma also hooked a short delivery from Cummins over the boundary for a six that required retrieval from a nearby road. Getting one to nip back into Bavuma, then on 18, on the front-pad, boland continued his wobble-seam brilliance. In contrast, Bavuma looked assured with his footwork, confidently presenting his defence and leaving deliveries that were out of his range without apparent trouble. He kept finding the odd boundary, using the pace to punch them both on the front and back foot, between his vigil. On occasion, he also kept pushing his partners for quick singles and doubles to cut extended periods of silence.
In the absence of Hazlewood, Beau Webster stepped in as the fourth pace option. Ryan Rickelton partnered with Bavuma to stabilize the innings, playing watchful shots while punishing loose balls. The pair compiled a fifty-run partnership, frustrating the Australian bowling attack as shadows lengthened across the ground.
Australia continued to probe relentlessly outside the off-stump. Their persistence paid off when Rickelton edged behind just two overs before stumps. Although wicketkeeper Alex Carey initially did not move, Matt Renshaw pulled off a brilliant one-handed catch at first slip to dismiss Rickelton for 31. Bavuma remained unbeaten at the close, having faced 108 deliveries for his 41 runs. Having now faced 108 deliveries for his 41, bavuma still stayed put though.
At stumps, South Africa reached 97 for 5 in their first innings. Scott Boland led the bowling figures with 4 wickets for 31 runs, while Mitchell Starc claimed 1 wicket for 27 runs.
