Australia’s batting lineup established control on the second day of the final Test in Cape Town, with contributions throughout the order putting the visitors ahead.
After even exchanges in the opening two sessions, an unbroken century stand between Josh Inglis and Alex Carey during the final session shifted momentum. Australia surpassed South Africa’s first-innings total of 329 right at the end of the day’s play, finishing at 330 for 4. Honours were shared once again in the morning session and in the post-lunch session, following a see-saw opening day. Just like the opening day did, the day kickstarted with a session that swung both ways. They lost two more for the addition of 101 in the afternoon, while Australia lost two wickets for 90 in the morning. Inglis stepped down the track to Harmer to smash him for a six that kickstarted a boundary-spree for the batter.
The morning session began evenly as openers Matt Renshaw and Travis Head navigated the new ball against Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Head accelerated by hitting Gerald Coetzee for consecutive boundaries before Simon Harmer struck with his very first delivery, bowling Head for 41. Harmer quickly added a second wicket by trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw for a duck. Australia’s openers made a confident start with both Rabada and the newly crowned No.1 bowler and allrounder Marco Jansen struggling to find the breakthrough with the brand new cherry. Playing a Test match after almost two years, bowled at a very high pace to pose some questions but Head eventually got on top of the bowler with successive boundaries to bring up the half-century stand, gerald Coetzee. The spinner’s very first ball resulted in a wicket as Head chopped one onto his stumps to fall for 41. Soon after, Green pulled Rabada off successive deliveries, fetching a six on both occasions and followed it up with a four to stamp his authority. The momentum flipped in a matter of two overs, but in what has been a recurring theme in this Test match. Only to feather it, renshaw attempted to take on a short ball and ramp it over the keeper.
Cameron Green joined Renshaw after the early blows, finding his rhythm with boundaries against Wiaan Mulder and Rabada. Both batters reached their half-centuries as the partnership surpassed 100 runs in the afternoon. However, Jansen removed both set batsmen before the tea break, having Renshaw caught behind for 74 and dismissing Green for 65 after an edge to slip. The home side managed to break the partnership with the introduction of Simon Harmer, finally after the drinks break.
Resuming in the final session, Inglis and Carey adopted a cautious approach before accelerating past the century partnership mark. South Africa took the second new ball immediately when available, but the pair held firm. Inglis scored consecutive boundaries in the penultimate over, while Carey also reached his fifty before Australia secured the first-innings lead with two balls remaining in the day.
Brief scores: Australia 330/4 in reply to South Africa’s 329, led by Josh Inglis 85*, Matt Renshaw 74, and Cameron Green 65, with Marco Jansen claiming 2 for 37.
