03/01Result
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018
Australia won by 118 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell StarcAustralia
03/01Result
1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Durban, Mar 1-5 2018
Australia won by 118 runs
Player of the Match
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell StarcAustralia

1.22pm So, Australia grind their way to a competitive 351, thanks to fifties from Smith and Warner, and a superb 96 from Mitch Marsh, aided and abetted by partnerships all down the order, particularly with Paine and Starc. Maharaj the pick of South Africa's bowlers, which will have Nathan Lyon licking his lips. But plenty encouragement for the likes of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins too. It's on. Back in five for the resumption.

110.4
W
Maharaj to Lyon, OUT, that's the way to do it. Lyon attempted another mow, this time down the ground, but a big miscue loops calmly into the covers, for Maharaj to claim a richly deserved five-wicket haul!

NM Lyon c de Bruyn b Maharaj 12 (39m 24b 2x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

110.3
4
Maharaj to Lyon, FOUR, swept again, and up comes the 350 with another finely connected biff. In front of square this time
110.2
4
Maharaj to Lyon, FOUR, that's a pleasing wallop from Lyon, down on one knee, scything a slog sweep clean across the line
110.1
0
Maharaj to Lyon, no run, round the wicket, looped onto the legs. Pushed to the on side

END OF OVER:
110 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 343/9

  • Josh Hazlewood2 (4b)
  • Nathan Lyon4 (20b)
  • Vernon Philander27-12-59-3
  • Keshav Maharaj33-5-115-4
109.6
0
Philander to Hazlewood, no run, short and wide, but Hazelwood's languid drive is easily intercepted at short cover
109.5
0
Philander to Hazlewood, no run, attempted yorker, well watched and squeezed into the leg side
109.4
2
Philander to Hazlewood, 2 runs, clobbered off the back foot, into the covers

Fidlerrr: "As a Surrey fan, perhaps the signing of Mitch Marsh for the County Championship wasn't quite so barmy after all!" Indeed... and rumour has it that Morkel may be headed there too ... plenty to talk about in the dressing room if that happens!

109.3
0
Philander to Hazlewood, no run, pushed back onto the stumps to defend
109.2
W
Philander to MR Marsh, OUT, goes for glory, and holes out to mid-on! Oh Mitch... a length delivery, his eyes lit up, a big heave through the line, but he found the tallest man on the field. Morne Morkel reaches out to snaffle the chance, and Australia's linchpin has to depart

MR Marsh c Morkel b Philander 96 (265m 173b 13x4 1x6) SR: 55.49

109.1
4
Philander to MR Marsh, FOUR, fenced through third man... they all count, especially in the 90s!

END OF OVER:
109 | 5 Runs | AUS: 337/8

  • Nathan Lyon4 (20b)
  • Mitchell Marsh92 (171b)
  • Keshav Maharaj33-5-115-4
  • Vernon Philander26-12-53-2

Ali: "@Kandeepan Arul If tahir was playing instead of Maharaj, then smith would still be batting right now :)" This is also a fair point... I guess you just need seven bowlers...

108.6
0
Maharaj to Lyon, no run, fenced to short leg

Rich: "That England vs SA scorecard fills me with sadness knowing that we are unlikely to ever see Hales bowl in a test match again. A true loss to test cricket." Ah, those were the days...

108.5
0
Maharaj to Lyon, no run, defended on the back foot
108.4
2
Maharaj to Lyon, 2 runs, worked back down the pitch, into the gap at mid-on
108.3
3
Maharaj to MR Marsh, 3 runs, well bowled, but unlucky... tossed up, looping into the toes, and a nutmeg of an inside-edge flies through Marsh's legs down to fine leg, where Philander makes a meal of his boundary fielding, but just about saves the four. He's into the 90s...

Match Coverage

All Match News

Markram's mark

2

No. of fourth-innings centuries in Durban since 1992, including Markram's in this match. The only other was Herschelle Gibbs' 104 also v Aus in 2002. SA had chased down 335 in that Test.

Rare dismissal for ABD

6

Instances of AB de Villiers being run out in Tests. This was his first such instance since Oct 2013. It's also his first duck in 39 Test innings v Australia

Tough for SA

370

The highest 4th-innings total in a Durban Test since South Africa's return to Test cricket. SA made that score v Australia in 2009, in a Test they lost by 175 runs

Maharaj's marches ahead

0

No. of SA spinners to take more than six wickets in a Test at Durban since readmission before this Test. Keshav Maharaj has taken nine in this match.

Bancroft gets one

2

No. of 50s for Cameron Bancroft in his 10 Test innings, including the one in the second inns of this Test. He hasn't crossed 30 in rest of the 8 inns.

Warner in SA

90.50

David Warner's average in Tests in South Africa, before this match. In the 2013-14 tour he had scored 543 runs in three Tests with three centuries and two fifties. He's got to another fifty in this match.

Smith's Streak

5

No. of consecutive 50+ scores for Steven Smith in Tests, including his 56 in this inns. He had scored 239, 76, 102* and 83 in last two Ashes Tests before this series.

Home disadvantage

0

No. of Test series wins for South Africa against Australia at home since readmission. They have played 7 series in SA of which Aus won 5 and 2 were drawn.