It had to happen. After the highs of a five-nil sweep of the old enemy, and a first Test whipping in Centurion, South Africa were bound to bounce back against Australia and show why they are the number one side in the world.
With the game evenly poised after the opening day, day two was always going to be pivotal. With AB de Villiers and a man who has done it before against Australia, JP Duminy, still at the crease, both a large and a poor first innings total was possible.
Unfortunately for Australia and happily for the Proteas, both supremely talented players peeled off hundreds and left the Aussies with a serious mountain to climb.
Nothing more needs to be said about AB de Villiers. He’s undoubtedly the best player in the world right now, and the ease with which he has handled the red-hot Australian bowlers so far this series is testament to his quality and skill.
It also helps that he is extremely easy on the eye, with a brief shuffle before the bowler delivers before he gets his feet into great position to play every shot in the book. He would be up there in aesthetically pleasing cricketers of the modern era.
JP Duminy’s impressive 123, something of a breakthrough knock in his return to the side, was crucial in getting South Africa over the 400 mark. Thankfully for Australia there was no resistance from the Proteas tail, and the score didn’t go too far past, ending on 423.
Another talking point has been the pitch, which offered very little assistance to the Australian quicks. Nathan Lyon did well to take his fifth career five-wicket haul, but Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris couldn’t find enough help to secure the breakthroughs.
How a pitch can seem to alter during a change of innings though, and the Aussies find themselves in deep at 4/112, with left-arm quick Wayne Parnell and Mr Consistency Vernon Philander both claiming two wickets.
Parnell’s little spell of two wickets for none was crucial, removing the two newbies in the Australian side, Alex Doolan and Shaun Marsh, in one over. Interestingly, these are the only two wickets in the match that have been caught behind the wicket, a testament to the speed of the pitch.
Thankfully for Australia, David Warner is still at the wicket, and with Steve Smith and Brad Haddin in next, you would think there is still a chance, on this slow Port Elizabeth wicket, that the Aussies can find a way to fight back into this game.
Find out with our live scores from 7:30pm AEDT, and join the banter in the comments section below.
Anynomous
Guest
http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/02/22/south-africa-vs-australia-second-test-day-three-live-scores/
Vic
Guest
Relax, mate it was a tongue in cheek comment following all the accusations of pitch doctoring made in the previous few days.......
Haven't heard much talk about it, to be honest, Smith may be respected, but he isn't wildly popular under many South Africans. My brother for example still sees him as that arrogant 22 year old of a decade ago.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Hey Biltong I am curious ;what's the general consensus of opinion in SA and the expat world about Graeme Smith becoming a Irish national citizen while still being SA's captain in the middle of a important test series ?
If it rains the whole of Monday it certainly is a possibility.
John
Guest
Wow!Tom Moody suggests this is gonna end up in a draw.
Vic
Guest
In the cupboard?
John
Guest
Oh no....now amla is dropped by haddin..
Jayden
Guest
Nope, we must all be secret Indians... ;)
Cantab
Guest
Hmm... Seems they're plenty overs short, 400 lead will have to wait till tomorrow.
John
Guest
And then the proteas will understand that blooding young guy against the aussies isn't too great for the confidence of the player...
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
An Aussie who sees it the way I do, you're an Aussie right?
Cantab
Guest
True, though even if they only get 30 overs in on Monday, you're still looking at over 100 overs to survive.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
That'll do Johnson the world of good. His effort in the first innings went unrewarded, so these are wickets will help with restoring his mojo.. May not bring a flurry of wickets but perhaps another one or two.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Johnson to bowl De Kock a cherry and split his middle stump.
John
Guest
De villiers is gone now and again johnson has picked his wicket...
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Of course they're flat. Lyon, Johnson, Harris and Siddle tried their guts out in the first innings all for what? The Australian batting to collapse and lower order having to score more than one of our openers, captain, number three and four! That's pathetic. It's no wonder why they're struggling right now. If we lose this test, which we should if bad weather holds off, you can blame the impatient and stupid batting from our top to middle order. This match was never going to be about who could bowl the best but who could bat. Given the way South Africa batted in the first innings, this match should have been a deadset draw. Our bowlers although deserving of a break, still deserve to be in the team for that third test for they're the ones who are going to give us a chance to win it.
John
Guest
Aussies can hope for a draw from here and they might well achieve it because weather forecast for monday isn't too great...
Cantab
Guest
Yeah, I was a bit miff'd at the at hate the Saffa's were getting for batting slow, given they were racking up the first 400+ score the Australia has conceded for a while.
Cantab
Guest
Should have the 400 lead by stumps, Saffa's won't need to bat more than an hour tomorrow.