The Australia South Africa day two story closed with the tourists in front by the narrowest of margins, as Australia reached 330 for four at stumps in reply to South Africa’s 329 all out in the deciding third Test at Newlands, Cape Town.
Australia lead by one run, with six first-innings wickets in hand. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was unbeaten on 85 and Alex Carey was unbeaten on 51 at the close on Wednesday, after a day that swung twice before settling in Australia’s favour.
Feature Pakistan earlier reported the tea-time position, when Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green had taken Australia to 191 for four. The evening session changed the picture. Inglis and Carey added an unbroken stand that carried Australia past South Africa’s total, turning a 138-run deficit at tea into a lead at stumps.
Australia South Africa day two: the morning wobble
Australia began the day in response to South Africa’s 329. Openers Travis Head and Renshaw put on 58 runs for the first wicket, a steady start on a pitch that had already offered help to the bowlers.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer broke the stand in the 18th over. He dismissed Head, who made 41 off 49 balls with seven fours. Harmer struck again in the same over, sending Marnus Labuschagne back for a five-ball duck. Australia had slipped from 58 without loss to 58 for two in the space of an over.
Instead, Green joined Renshaw and the pair took control, adding 126 runs for the third wicket through the middle session.
Renshaw made 74 off 139 balls, with 10 fours, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton off Marco Jansen. Green made 65 off 110 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, before he fell to Jansen, with Harmer taking the catch at slip. Both batters had survived reviews early in their innings, and both reached their half-centuries off successive balls after lunch.
Inglis and Carey take Australia past 329
With a 144-run deficit still to erase after Green and Renshaw fell, Inglis and Carey took charge. Inglis was the aggressor, reaching 85 off 111 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. Carey played the steadier hand, reaching 51 not out off 126 balls.
Their stand mattered for more than the scoreboard. South Africa had bowled well in patches, and Harmer and Jansen had taken two wickets each by stumps. But the longer Inglis and Carey stayed together, the more the pitch and the match situation tilted towards Australia.
South Africa’s 329 had looked competitive when Australia lost two early wickets. By stumps, it looked short, with Australia six wickets in hand and a lead on the board.
This is the third and final Test, a decider at Newlands. A first-innings lead, even one run, gives Australia the chance to bat South Africa out of the match on day three, if Inglis and Carey build on their stand.
What day three will decide
Day three will test both sides in different ways. Australia will want a lead of substance, not just a single run. If Inglis converts his 85 into a century and Carey stays with him, Australia can push towards a total that forces South Africa to bat last on a wearing pitch.
South Africa will want an early breakthrough. A wicket in the first hour would expose Australia’s lower middle order and give the home side a route back into the match. Harmer’s spin and Jansen’s pace will carry much of that hope, after their two wickets each on day two.
Renshaw and Green answered questions about their places with half-centuries under pressure. Inglis now has the chance to shape a series decider, and Carey has again shown his value in a tight situation. For now, the match is finely balanced in score but tilted in momentum: Australia lead by one run with six wickets in hand, a far stronger place than 58 for two on the second morning.
Feature Pakistan earlier reported on Renshaw and Green leading Australia’s fightback at Newlands and on Sri Lanka beating Pakistan by eight wickets in the tri-series final.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score at stumps on day two?
Australia are 330 for four, leading South Africa by one run after South Africa made 329 all out in their first innings.
