Bavuma stands firm, but Proteas still under pressure in Gqeberha
In Gqeberha, South Africa close day two on 97/5. Bavuma is 41 not out, after the late break of his partnership with Rickelton.
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Temba Bavuma held on to the close, but South Africa lost Ryan Rickelton just as their partnership was giving the innings some breathing space. The Proteas ended Monday 19 October, day two of the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha, on 97 for five, with five wickets down. Their captain resumes on 41, with Wiaan Mulder on 2. South Africa's first innings is still in progress.
The difference came late in the day. At 40/4, the Bavuma–Rickelton pair first had to stop another rapid slide of wickets. They added 52 before Scott Boland found the edge of Rickelton's bat. Matt Renshaw dived to his right to take the catch one-handed, just above the ground. Rickelton was out for 31, with South Africa on 92/5.
A rebuild interrupted
The two men batted at different tempos: Bavuma faced 108 balls for his 41, while Rickelton made his 31 off 51 balls. The captain also found five fours and a six.
After day one ended on 20/2, the resumption gave the South Africans little respite. Marques Ackerman, on Test debut, was out for 6, caught by Alex Carey off Boland. Mitchell Starc then removed Matthew Breetzke, also caught by Carey, for 4. The total had gone to 25/3, then to 40/4.
Boland now has four wickets for 31 runs conceded in this innings; Starc has the other wicket, for 27 conceded. The match, disrupted by rain, has reached only 43 overs, the six-ball sets, over these two days.
On Tuesday, Bavuma and Mulder will have to extend the first innings with five wickets still in hand. Australia have yet to bat: South Africa's 97 is a running total, not a margin between the sides.