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They won six sessions as 34 wickets fell for less than 145 overs in Australia's second shortest Test.
Australia 218 (Head 92, Labada 4-76) and 35-for-4 (Labuchagne 5*, Labada 4-13) beat South Africa 152 (Bellain 64, Lyon 3-14) and 99 (Bavma 29, Cummins 5-42). broke. six gates
It lasted only two days. But it was action-packed, wicket-filled, and unusual. And eventually, Australia took the series lead. They were victorious in his six sessions as 34 wickets fell under 145 overs in his second-shortest Test in Australia. The high frequency of exits inevitably means that the topic of conversation is the pitch. On the first day, it was so green that it could not be distinguished from the outfield, Unfair. The Australian bowlers were accurate and astute against South Africa's batting arrays, especially in the second half and throughout the second inning. In 2022, South Africa had eight ejections under 200 in Tests, the most innings under 200 in a calendar year. Combined scores of 152 and 99, the top scores of Kyle Verreynne's 64 and Khaya Zondo's 36*, weren't enough in that test match.
Australia also struggled on the Strip, showing signs of the uneven influence favored by Divot, losing four wickets in pursuit, all to Kagiso Rabada. He's now the leading Test wicket-taker this year, and it's a small consolation to fall behind in an important competition. For South Africa to qualify for the Test World Cup final, he has to win at least one Test, but Australia tops his table in points.
The damage came in the mid-session, with South Africa cutting points to 66-7 after conceding a tied lead in the morning, but not much hitting. Playing only in his third Test, Zond gave a fair testimony of his ability, especially against short-ball, but had only support from Temba Babuma, who shared a 42-run quarter wicket stand.
When the pair came together, South Africa lost 5-3 to Dean Elgar, lbw to Pat Cummins, and Lassie van der Dussen to the beauty of Mitchell Stark. Test wickets and Sarel Irwin were involved in the trough for the second time in the match. Bavuma and Zondo battled for 99 balls together and scored a combined 42 runs, many of which were tense. They were beaten at least a dozen times, but several forms of assault, such as when Babma leaned into a cover drive from Cummins and then Scott Boland, and when Zond pulled Cummins to the back of the square. There were also signs. They were 19 runs short of closing the deficit when a shot from Nathan Lyon stayed just low and hit Bavma with the pads. He was put out and checked, and replays showed him chopping off the stump on his leg.
In the next over, Bolland found the outer edge of Kyle Verane with a slightly widened throw and Stephen Smith completed the catch on the second slip. Two balls later, Bolland and his Marco Jansen bowled away with his seamer. Just in time for the scheduled tea break, Stark bagged another bag as Keshab Maharaj swooped in. South Africa was two points behind. They leveled until the tea break but were unable to build a significant lead as Cummins eliminated Rabada and Henrich Norce on back-to-back balls. Most of the time Lungi Ngidi was with him and Zond was on strike, but Ngidi also escaped several times and South Africa won Australia by 34.
Previously, Australia led with the first five deliveries as Rabada was completed overnight. Cameron Green played a half-volley, knocking Rabada down to give the hosts the lead. Green shot in his next two overs for Labada and he repeated twice to force Rabada out of the attack early on, but it was not in Australia's favor.
Marco Jansen replaced Rabada and in the first over he scored twice to give Australia a quick start. Green received a half-volley from Jansen's second ball and attempted a hard drive. He just managed a thick cross on the third slip he flew to Keshav Maharaj. Maharaj parried the ball and Salel Awi ran to catch it from the first slip. Two balls later, Travis Head got stuck in the side of his leg. When he checked his head, there was nothing in the hotspot, but Snicko revealed a spike confirming it had hit both his glove and shirt. His 96-ball innings finished with 92, which ultimately proved to be a big difference between the two.
Australia's lead at that point was just 30 runs, with over 50 up to Alex on his carry and the lower team. Stark lofted Jansen at mid-off, pulled Norce at mid-wicket, and wicked 31 with Carry on the eighth. Carey ran well in the short innings, not limited to 22 on 30 balls, but he and Stark ran 12 singles, two threes, and four balls.
They took Australia's lead over 60 before Ngidi was introduced after the first drink break and won. Starc stabbed Ngidi's first ball in the air to 4 thumbs through the middle and also powered up the last ball in the air. Ngidi landed deep on the follow-through and completed a good return catch.
A swollen Rabada bounced three short balls back-to-back to Cummins. Appeared first, Cummins issued but verified successfully. A replay showed the ball hit the arm guard. Cummins nearly edged the second, then pulled the third into the middle of the wicket where Norce was waiting. In that next over, Rabada caught Lyon en route and finished with four wickets in the innings.
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