Aussie skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl first on a green top, and the decision paid dividends as the visitors got bundled out for just 152. Mitchell Starc (3/41) and Nathan Lyon (3/14) picked up three wickets each, while Scott Boland (2/28) and Cummins (2/35) bagged two wickets apiece.
In reply, Australia got off to a terrible start, with Kagiso Rabada bowling an absolute jaffa to get rid of David Warner on the very first ball of the hosts’ innings. Rabada dug in a sweltering bouncer, and Warner looked absolute clueless as he probably wasn’t expecting a bumper.
The New South Wales batter jumped in the air while defending, and the ball lobbed off his splice. Khaya Zondo, who was positioned at short leg, leapt up and grabbed a one-handed stunner and Warner recorded his first golden duck in Test cricket since January 2013.
“David Warner just took his eye off the ball, and he’s paid the price. Nothing’s gone David Warner’s way – he keeps making mistakes and keeps paying a high price. It was nasty enough (the Rabada delivery) – but once you take your eye off it, anything can happen,” said commentator Mark Waugh.
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Eight over after Warner’s dismissal, Marnus Labuschagne joined him in the dressing room as he nicked Marco Jansen to the slips for 11. Soon, Anrich Nortje joined the party and dismissed Usman Khawaja (11) to reduce Australia to 27/3 inside the 10 overs.
Earlier, the tourists were in a spot of bother after losing four wickets for 27 before Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma calmed things down. The duo formed a crucial 98-run partnership for the fifth wicket and were looking solid to cruise through. However, the home team came back in the game again after Starc dismissed Bavuma for 38 to trigger a collapse as the Proteas were eventually bowled out for 152 in 48.2 overs. Verreynne, with 64 off 96, was the top-scorer for South Africa.
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