Second Test, Gqeberha (day two of five)
South Africa 97-5: Bavuma 41*; Boland 4-31
Australia: Yet to bat
Scorecard
For much of Monday it appeared rain would deny any meaningful play taking place on day two of the second Test between South Africa and Australia.
In the end, the hosts may have wished that remained the case as their top-order frailties were exposed once again in Gqeberha.
With the Proteas 97-5 at the close, the balance of power in the series remains firmly with Australia.
It took Australia’s metronome Scott Boland only seven deliveries to add to his two wickets taken amid the rain on day one.
Relentless in his line and lengths, the 37-year-old found the perfect length to drag debutant Marques Ackerman onto the front foot.
Ackerman defended nicely for 38 balls but here he neither defended nor unleashed a drive.
Instead, he stumbled forward and became the 85th victim of Boland’s 20-Test career as he nicked through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Boland ended the day with 4-31 as he, once again, emphatically pushed his case.
That Ackerman, one of two batting changes from their first-Test defeat, was opening the batting against the red ball for the first time in his career pointed to the issues South Africa face.
The other new face, Matthew Breetzke, was brought in on the back of his white-ball form after Tristan Stubbs played two poor strokes in the first Test.
Breetzke’s feet barely moved in making four from 17. He was eventually dismissed trying to force Mitchell Starc loosely through the covers off the back foot.
A result of Ackerman’s selection was Ryan Rickelton, another fine white-ball player with a modest red-ball record, being moved from opener to number six and wicketkeeper.
After top-edging a pull last week, he was worked over by Pat Cummins’ bouncers late on day two.
He had already been hit on the body and dropped on 26 by Marnus Labuschagne when, stuck on the crease, he edged Boland while pushing tentatively outside off stump.
On another day the ball would have found the turf but Matt Renshaw stuck out a right hand at first slip and somehow scooped the ball up above the ground.