Source : the age
From Daniel Brettig in Durban: “Labuschagne is out for 37 in each innings, only reinforcing the fact that his struggles to make big scores appear to be in his head. Up to that point, Labuschagne had been in super touch, forcing boundaries off back and front feet, and finding regular singles. After Renshaw slapped a pair of reverse sweeps to the boundary, Labuschagne tried to punch a cover drive off Maharaj, but there was enough turn and bounce to skew the ball to cover.”
Dear oh dear.
Marnus Labuschagne will be filthy. He’s out. Out for 37. it was tossed up by Mahraj and Labuschagne hits in the air to Temba Bavuma at cover. It’s a soft departure and he’ll finish the Test with consecutive scores in the 30s.
Matt Renshaw, meanwhile, has picked up where he left off in the first innings. He’s 20 off 19. Alex Carey is the new batsman.
Australia are 3-157.
Gone! Steve Smith is out.
He belted Simon Harmer for a six off the first ball of the over and he’s tried to do it agian. But this time he holds out and he’s been caught at deep mid-on by Marco Jansen for 27. It was a good catch in the end.
Labuschagne is 29 not out and joined by Matt Renshaw, who is in form after posting 190 in the first innings. Australia lead by 231.
Australia are 3-125.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and the Proteas have burned a review. As Mark Nicholas says, “It’s a bad review. Wasted is the word.”
Labuschagne was struck on the pads as he attempted a sweep shot, but Simon Harmer’s off-spin was always going down the leg side. It was missing by a few inches.
Labuschagne (29 off 44) and Smith (20 off 33) are looking comfortable.
Australia are 2-118 off 22 overs.
The Aussies are on the march. The 100 is up.
Smith (15) and Labuschagne (16) have struck a few boundaries and the 100 is up after 17 overs.
Australia 2-100.
Smith hit in the head by Nortje. It was a searing bouncer at 137km/h.
The brilliant right-hander doesn’t look troubled, but there’s the usual HIA check.
It was a fine delivery from the right-arm quick, who removed Maddinson with a perfectly executed yorker last over.
Smith is 2, Labuschagne 8 and Australia are 2-77 and lead by 183 runs.
Gone. Another. Maddinson.
What a delivery from Nortje. The right-arm quick was brought into the attack and immediately strikes. It’s a cracking delivery. 132km/h and full and straight and it’s the perfect yorker.
Maddinson is gone for 48. He joins Head (11) in the sheds.
Steve Smith is the new batsman and he joins Labuschagne (7).
Australia are 2-73
An early offering from our man Dan Brettig on the ground, who writes: “A couple nicks through slips and Maddinson has his highest Test score, 25 surpassing 22 from his first brief Test stint in 2016-17.”
Bavuma has now called for spin. It hasn’t taken long. Despite the ball being just nine overs old, Bavuma has turned to Simon Harmer – the 37-year-old, right-arm off-spinner.
Wow, Maddinson hasn’t taken long. He’s gone after Harmer immediately and belts a six over the spinner’s head. Maddinson to 48. Labuschagnne is five.
Australia are 1-71 off 10 overs.
Gone. Wicket!
Travis Head goes for 11. Jansen picks the opener up. The left-hander tried to work the left-armer onto the leg side but only managed a leading edge. It’s a big first wicket for the Proteas. Bavuma took the catch at mid-on.
Marnus Labuschagne comes to the crease. It’s another big innings for Labuschagne, who is out to snap a three-year century drought. He played with intent in the first innings, before being trapped in front for 37.
Australia 1-43 after 7 overs.
We’re underway and Nic Maddinson starts with a boundary.
There wasn’t much bounce from Mulder’s first ball – the fifth of the over – and Maddinson guided it down to the third man boundary. So he’s 21, Australia is 0-37 and the 34-year-old, left-hander will feel much better about himself already.
It will be Marco Jansen from the other end. The ball is just six overs old. And the left-armer has Head playing defensively. He gets a single from his second ball, before Maddinson picks up another boundary – this time from an outside edge that goes through first slip’s legs.
Australia 0-42.
