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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert and Garrin Lambley
BATSMEN IN : AB de Villiers 52*, Robin Peterson 10*
BATSMEN OUT : Graeme Smith 10, Alviro Petersen 2, Faf du Plessis 3, Hashim Amla 17, JP Duminy 25, Ryan McLaren 8
***RECAP OF ALL THE DRAMA FROM DAY 1***
17:45 - PICTURE
YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN. When he wasn't tormenting the SA batsmen with his vicious pace bowling, Mitchell Johnson was taking sublime catches in the outfield... (AFP)
17:36 - No doubt that the Proteas are up against it. It will take a magnificent fightback effort from the tail if the South Africans are to fight their way back into it.
De Villiers has to stay there and hope that all of Peterson, Philander, Steyn and Morkel can stay with him as long as possible.
Join us again tomorrow for some more INTERACTIVE COMMENTARY...
17:35 - STUMPS ON DAY 2
Play has officially been called off with the Proteas on 140/6 after 44.3 overs.
Mitchell Johnson, 4/51, was simply sublime and the hosts - with the exception of De Villiers - simply had no answer to his pace.
The game will restart at 10:27 on Friday morning.
17:31 - A bit of thunder and lightning around as well. It's unlikely that we'll see any more play today...
17:27 - And just like that, rain comes down and the players are off...
17:27 - Peterson really struggling under the Johnson bouncers... he's complaining of bad light...
17:18 - AB ready to go now after treatment as Johnson continues to steam in...
17:16 - AB now receiving treatment after being struck on his right hand... lets hope the magic spray can do the trick. SA cannot afford to lose him now...
17:12 - HALF-CENTURY for AB de Villiers. His 35th in Tests.
He has also equalled Viv Richards' world record of scoring a 50 in 11 consecutive Tests.
He is clearly South Africa's best. Should he carry the burden of 'keeping as well?
Send your thoughts to: news@sport24.co.za
17:11 - TWEET
Let's be very clear. Ryan McLaren is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the 'new Jacques Kallis'. He just happens to be an all-rounder - Cricket365
17:07 - Robbie P to the rescue for South Africa?
17:06 - WICKET! McLaren doesn't last much longer. His off-stump is castled by Johnson and he goes for 8. South Africa 126/6.
17:03 - Massive caught behind appeal against McLaren from Lyon. Given not out by umpire Aleem Dar. Australia opt not to review it. Looks close to the edge, but maybe more off his leg and into 'keeper Haddin's gloves.
17:00 - PICTURE
Passing storm clouds over SuperSport Park... (Getty Images)
16:58 - Debutant Alex Doolan takes the helmet at short leg as Johnson bowls to McLaren. Bouncers coming up???
16:56 - Johnson back into the attack for the visitors...
16:47 - INTERESTING STAT
The Proteas batsmen have left 16% of balls compared to Australia leaving 33% on Wednesday.
16:42 - McLaren off the mark with a beatiful cover drive for four off the bowling of Harris.
16:40 - 198
This is the first target South Africa must aim for now in order to avoid the follow on...
16:33 - There was really no need for Duminy to go down the pitch and try hit Lyon out the ground. He looked so good along with De Villiers, but he fell into a trap set by Australian captain Clarke. And you just can't keep Johnson out the game when he's facing the Proteas...
16:30 - Ryan McLaren is the new bastman in...
16:29 - WICKET! Duminy is brilliantly caught in the deep by Johnson off the bowling of Lyon for 25. South Africa 110/5. What a catch from Johnson, running backwards and falling, but held on...
16:27 - Former Australian all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, says this pitch looks like a "new ball wicket". Once the ball gets soft, batting becomes easier.
16:17 - De Villiers brings up South Africa's 100 (off 164 balls) by pulling Harris four four.
16:15 - PICTURE
AB de Villiers, handling the dangerous Mitchell Johnson with care... (AFP)
16:14 - Duminy darts down the pitch and smacks Lyon for six to bring up the 50 partnership - off 83 balls.
16:09 - Australia doing a lot of polishing of the ball with the hardness having gone out of it. They aim is to get reverse-swing, something Johnson can also do...
16:08 - Siddle replaces Johnson with the partnership worth 48 now.
16:05 - The sightscreen won't budge, and ground staff are forced to manually pull a cloth over it...
16:03 - Off-spinner Lyon now back on. Slight delay as they struggle to get a Zebra-looking sponsor off the sightscreen. Always an issue with sightscreens at cricket grounds...
15:57 - A massive bouncer (148.2 km/h) from Johnson sees it go over Duminy's head - as well as 'keeper Haddin - for four byes...
15:51 - De Villiers seems to be handling the dangerous Johnson well. He is playing him largely off the back foot, giving himself a bit more time. That may be the way to go against the speedster...
15:43 - Big lbw appeal from Harris to Duminy. Given not out by Aleem Dar. But no review from the Aussies...
15:43 - TWEET
Love watching De Villiers! He's in my top 5 to watch.. Gayle, Kohli, MSD and Warner are other 4! #entertainers - Kevin Pietersen
15:34 - Harris the second man on after tea. AB is looking good at present. #moreofthesameplease
15:29 - Johnson to start proceedings to De Villiers...
15:28 - Welcome back for the final session. An immensely important one for South Africa. If they crumble here it could be impossible to save this Test...
This partnership - as was the case in Australia's innings - will be pivotal.
15:26 - TWEET
Something about Mitch that rarely gets mentioned is that he is a tall bowler with Malcolm Marshall's low skiddy trajectory - Mike Selvey
15:10 - TEA TIME
South Africa 63/4, trailing by 334. A session of horror for the hosts.
Join us in about 20 minutes for the final session.
15:10 - TWEET
Johnson telling JP Duminy that he's a prick. Obviously doesn't know JP's from the Cape Flats and also knows words starting with P. #savaus - Jeremy Harris
15:07 - Off-spinner Nathan Lyon now into the attack shortly before tea. AB will definitely look to take him on.
15:06 - Duminy marvellously pulls Johnson for four. The Aussie likes none of it and lets Duminy know...
14:58 - PICTURE: WHY AMLA WAS OUT!
OUT! Hawkeye shows it's plumb, and Amla is out for 17! Massive wicket for Australia. SA in all sorts at 4-43. #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
14:54 - AB taking Johnson on and pulls him for six! Attack is the best form of defence.
14:53 - Danger-man Johnson now back into the attack.
14:52 - JP Duminy next in. Time for "Koppe" to start showing his worth with the bat on...
14:51 - WICKET! Aleem Dar got that horribly wrong. Amla is given out lbw by the third umpire for 17. South Africa in tatters at 43/4.
14:49 - Massive lbw appeal by Siddle on Amla. Given not out, but the decision is reviewed by Australia. Ouch, I must say that looks plumb...
14:47 - De Villiers and Amla now both into double figures. Looking comfortable minus a certain Mitchell Johnson in the attack...
14:35 - PICTURE
Mitchell Johnson, Australia's destroyer-in-chief. (AFP)
14:34 - Harris has now replaced Johnson. Why take him off after only four overs?
14:29 - Peter Siddle now replaces Ryan Harris for the visitors.
14:28 - Amla ducks and is hit on the left shoulder by Johnson. Ouch! Not much bounce there this time, which will worry the batsmen...
14:25 - The Proteas clearly haven't faced a bowler capable of bowling at 150km/h in the last while...
14:24 - AB de Villiers to the rescue now?
14:22 - WICKET! Faf is out. He can't handle another Johnson bouncer and is caught at third slip by Clarke. South Africa 23/3.
14:20 - TWEET
There is a HUGE difference when facing someone at 140kmh compared to 150kmh.. - Kevin Pietersen
14:16 - Oh-so-close as Faf is nearly out first ball, edging it but it just dropped short of first slip. It's all happening here at SuperSport Park!
14:15 - Johnson, whose fastest ball so far is 149km/h, is clearly scaring the Proteas batsmen...
14:15 - Faf du Plessis is the next batsman in with South Africa on the ropes.
14:13 - WICKET! Johnson strikes again. Petersen out for 2, caught behind by 'keeper Haddin. Poor shot by Petersen playing away from his body.
14:06 - TWEET
Aussie bowlers already one up on SA, making them play. SA didn't do enough of that yesterday - Sport24 columnist Antoinette Muller
14:03 - Another anxious moment as Amla plays and misses at a Ryan Harris delivery.
14:02 - TWEET
Smith faced two balls from Johnson. Both short, First almost got him. Second got him. #savaus #cricket - Firdose Moonda
13:58 - That bouncer was too quick for Smith, right up by his shoulder and all he could do was get some bat on it and hit it straight up... The sixth time Johnson has dismissed Smith in Tests.
13:58 - Hashim Amla the next batsman in.
13:57 - WICKET! Smith is out. He finds a Johnson bouncer too hot to handle and is caught by Marsh for 10. An that folks, is why Smith did not want to face Johnson early on yesterday morning...
13:53 - Danger-man Mitchell Johnson to bowl the second over.
13:52 - Smith steers it for four through the gully region. Good start!
13:50 - Biff pulls the very first ball to the boundary!
13:49 - Ryan Harris starts with Smith on strike.
13:47 - Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen are out there ready to face the music.
13:46 - PICTURE
Dale Steyn and Robin Peterson celebrate (Gallo Images)
13:42 - But it's a good total from the visitors who will feel they have the upper hand. Some cracks are starting to show on the pitch and it's also getting a bit overcast.
South Africa's batsmen need to be on top form if they are to pass this total!
13:39 - Steyn finishes as South Africa's best bowler with 4/78 in 29 overs. Not bad for a man who had gastro!
13:38 - WICKET! Steyn clean bowls Siddle for 2 to get his fourth wicket. Australia all out for 397. They scored exactly 100 runs today, losing 6 wickets.
13:32 - Lyon scored 60 runs against England in the recent Ashes series, and wasn't dismissed once! #nottheworstno11
13:31 - Nathan Lyon is the last man in.
13:29 - WICKET! Robbie P clean bowls Johnson for 33 after the latter tried to slog-sweep him out the ground... Australia 391/9. Looked like Johnson didn't show Peterson any respect with that shot!
13:29 - Peterson now back on in place of Duminy.
13:25 - Peter Siddle is the new batsman in. Siddle has scored a first class hundred - against Scotland - playing for Australia A.
13:24 - Ryan Harris is clean bowled by Steyn for 19. His off-stump went cart-wheeling after getting an inside edge. Australia 391/8. Muted celebration from Steyn...
13:24 - WICKET!
13:21 - Clouds are starting to build up in the Centurion sky. It looks like thunderstorm conditions although none were predicted. This could also aide the bowlers by bringing some swing... which is not what South Africa would want if they come to bat later.
13:19 - Big cheer from the crowd as Amla this time round successfully fields a ball on the boundary...
13:17 - OMINOUS STAT FOR PROTEAS?
Mitchell Johnson averages around 46 against SA in Tests, and only about 16 against the rest of the world...
13:14 - Steyn to bowl the second over after lunch. Change of ends from Steyn.
13:11 - Welcome back after lunch. Poor start from SA as Hashim Amla completely misses a ball on the boundary and it goes for four... Duminy bowling.
12:37 - IPL AUCTION 2014
The auction for the 2014 IPL tournament is finally over!
THIS is how the teams will line up.
Spot the South African...
12:34 - WE'LL BE BACK!
Join us at 13:10 for the post-lunch session
12:33 - PICTURE
Tough day at the office for Sport24 columnist Antoinette Muller... (via Instagram)
12:32 - The stats for the first session on Day 2 were:
Runs scored: 77
Wickets taken: 3
Overs bowled: 26
12:31 - LUNCH
And the Proteas will have to come out and bowl for a fifth session of the Test as Australia go to lunch on 374/7 off 116 overs
12:30 - TWEET
Infinitely better bowling by SA today. Apart from taking wickets, have built periods of pressure. - Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing
12:27 - OH DEAR...
Big shout for LBW, angling in from round the wicket by Steyn. Johnson was shuffling across his crease again. Bounce, perhaps, the issue. SA decline to review. It was heading towards the leg stump, was delivered from quite wide on the crease. Wow, the replay says that would have been overturned!
12:23 - Annoying little partnership developing between Johnson and Harris which SA would like to break before lunch - which is in 5 minutes...
12:22 - PICTURE
Robin Peterson in all his glory, celebrates the wicket of Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (Gallo Images)
12:18 - And Johnson responds by hitting the next ball for four...
12:15 - Johnson has been a thorn in the side of the SA attack in the past. He's moved quickly to 20 off 33 balls and appears in no trouble at the crease.
There Graeme Smith, I've just hexed him! My pleasure...
12:12 - Terrific banter on Cricinfo and Twitter as to whether Morkel should've been allowed to have bowled after spending around 70 minutes off the field this morning
12:02 - Morkel into the attack without having to wait to make up the time he spent off the field. Must have been classed as an external injury.
11:56 - HUGE SCALP FOR THE PROTEAS
Big Vernon Philander gets the wicket of Shaun Marsh as he edges a delivery to skipper Graeme Smith at first slip.
Marsh out for 148 off 288 balls
11:56 - WICKET!
11:51 - HE'S BACK!
Morne Morkel makes an appearance on the field. The scan on his back must've resulted in good news
11:44 - IPL AUCTION UPDATE
Slightly better news on Day 2 of the 2014 IPL auction as Wayne Parnell fetches $166 000 fron the Delhi Daredevils and Marchant de Lange goes to the Mumbai Indians for $50 000
11:40 - Haddin out third ball. In strides Mitchell Johnson...
11:38 - Peterson traps Haddin in front for a DUCK - a decision the fourth umpire upholds after Haddin reviews the onfield umpire's orginal call
11:38 - Raining wickets all of a sudden at SuperSport Park - and even Robbie P is in the action!
11:38 - WICKET!
11:31 - Success at last for the Proteas as Alviro Petersen takes the catch at second slip off the bowling of Ryan McLaren to dismiss Steve Smith for 100 off 213 balls.
So ends the 233-run partnership.
11:31 - WICKET!
11:30 - PICTURE
Century for Steve Smith (Twitter)
11:28 - TWEET
i hope Steve isn't the only Smith who scores a 100 in this test. well played. #SAvAus - Craig Ray
11:26 - TON FOR SMITH!
Steve Smith that is... who goes to his fourth century for Australia off 211 balls.
11:25 - WORRYING STAT
Only 3 teams have ever scored more than 300 in first innings at Centurion and lost. the highest was 323 by Sri Lanka in 2002.
Not looking good for SA.
11:23 - Steve Smith has been clawing his way through the 90s. It hasn't been pretty, but it's been mighty effective.
He's up to 99 now...
11:18 - DESPERATE TIMES?
Peterson's figures read: 10-0-34-0
11:16 - 100 OVERS
South Africa have now bowled 100 overs, conceding 315 runs at an average of 3.15 per over...
And Graeme Smith celebrates the milestone by bringing on Robin Peterson. WHY?!
11:10 - NOT OUT
The Proteas heard a noise - certainly wasn't off the bat or gloves - umpire gave it not out. Graeme Smith asked for it to be reviewed. At best it caught Steve Smith's shirt, but the fourth umpire rightly gives it NOT OUT.
South Africa lose one of their two appeals
11:08 - DECISION REVIEW
The first decision reviewed of the Test!
By South Africa for caught behind...
10:54 - TWEET
whyy are aussies wearing black armbands? doubt it's a mark of respect for the demise of the SA bowling attack. #SAvAUS - Craig Ray
10:53 - HOW IRONIC
"Gary Kirsten is one of the coaches I've wanted to work with for a long time" - Kevin Pietersen on his new Delhi Daredevils coach.
Kirsten was linked to the England coaching job after Pietersen was shown the door...
10:50 - CROWD? WHAT CROWD?
Very few people in attendance at SuperSport Park this morning. No official figure for Day 1 as yet... #comeonCricinfo!
10:44 - STEYN STAT
Did you know Dale Steyn's fastest delivery of the match was timed at 146.8km/h?
Well it's true! (as he's just cut to the point boundary by Smith...)
10:41 - 300-UP
And that's the 300 up for Australia...
Graeme Smith has a quiet ponder at slip as whether he should've batted first...
10:40 - TWEET
It's hot and sunny in Centurion. The pitch is as flat as it has ever been. If Proteas bowlers thought yesterday was hard work... - Neil Manthorp
10:39 - First run of the morning goes to Marsh - and that brings up the 200-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
10:35 - BAD NEWS!
Groan! Morne Morkel won't be bowling today, having hurt his shoulder in the field yesterday, according to reports... He's gone for a scan.
More news to follow...
10:34 - Maiden over by Philander and Dale Steyn has the ball from the other end
10:31 - AND WE'RE UNDER WAY!
Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh are out in the middle and Vernon Philander will bowl the first over of Day 2
10:28 - SUNFOIL SERIES
For those interested, there are currently three Sunfoil Series matches on the go...
Dolphins v Warriors - Durban
Cape Cobras v Highveld Lions - Cape Town
Knights v Titans - Kimberley
10:24 - The Proteas will look to force the no-doubt tentative Smith into an error as he makes his way through the "nervous nineties"
10:22 - Australia's Steve Smith is currently 9 runs shy of what would be his fourth - and perhaps most - important century for the Baggy Greens.
10:21 - GOOD MORNING CRICKET FANS!
Another peach of a day at SuperSport Park in Centurion. We're 8 minutes away from a vital first hour for the Proteas speedsters. Proteas skipper Graeme Smith wouldn't have slept well last night after his decision to insert Australia backfired in spectacular fashion, with the visitors piling on 297 runs in the 90 overs they faced - at an average of 3.3 runs per over.
9:43 - PICTURE
The Proteas in a huddle ahead of a crucial morning session on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia (Twitter)
9:19 - PICTURE
Dale Steyn gets his 'wings' for the first Test. Come on Dale! (Twitter)
9:00 - IPL AUCTION UPDATE
The Cape Cobras' Beuran Hendricks, who was been in red-hot form for the Cape side during this year's RAM SLAM T20 Challenge, has been sold to the Kings XI Punjab side for $300 000!
8:35 - BIFF'S PLAN - THAT NEARLY WORKED
SA are on the back foot, but Graeme Smith’s first-Test toss decision cannot be held up as a really major error, says Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing.
Click HERE to read Rob's full article
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Graeme Smith's decision to field after winning the toss in the first Test against Australia at SuperSport Park backfired spectacularly when the visitors finished Day 1 on 297/4.
Do you think Smith's shock decision had anything to do with the fact had he batted, he'd have opened with Mitchell Johnson tearing in from the other end - a bowler who'd broken his fingers on more than one occasion?
TEAMS
South Africa:
Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel
Australia:
David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon
UMPIRES
Richard Illingworth (England) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan)
TV umpire: Ian Gould (England)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)
Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on Day 1 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Centurion in Pretoria.