Australia pacers rock SA, put team in sight of victory
Australia were in position for a big victory in the opening Test as South Africa’s top order fell apart under pressure on the fourth day on Sunday, epitomized by the chaotic run out of AB de Villiers for a duck.
Australia’s quick bowlers sliced through with three other wickets in the 22 overs they delivered before lunch. Josh Hazelwood then broke an 87-run partnership between Aiden Markram and Theunis de Bruyn.
South Africa were 167-5 at tea, 249 runs behind and with opener Markram holding up the Australians with his 85 not out. South Africa needed to make 417, their highest-ever fourth innings score at Kingsmead in Durban to win --unlikely --- or to bat for another day-and-a-bit for a draw.
At the start of the innings, Mitchell Starc removed Dean Elgar (9) caught behind with a fizzing short ball, Hazelwood had Hashim Amla out lbw for 8, and Pat Cummins ripped out captain Faf du Plessis’ off stump to put Australia well on course for an early lead in the four-test series.
David Warner set up the run out of de Villiers, who was South Africa’s best batsman in the first innings but who only faced one delivery before he was sent back on Sunday to wild celebrations by the Australian fielders.
De Villiers thought about a quick single with Markram on strike, but was sent back as Warner swooped from backward square leg to run de Villiers out.
DURBAN:
5-156, 6-175, 7-185, 8-203, 9-209
Bowling: M Morkel 15-4-47-3; V Philander 14-4-35-0; K Maharaj 29.4-4-102-4; K Rabada 13-5-28-2; D Elgar 3-1-10-1.
The Indian squad for the 2018 Nidahas Trophy consists of players who have not had much international exposure. A closer look at the squad reveals majority of the new faces are in the bowling department.
Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal make up the bowling line-up. Siraj and Thakur have played two matches while Sundar has played one. Unadkat has featured in six, Axar 11 while Chahal has the most with 16. Taking out Suresh Raina’s occasional off-spin, the 27-year-old legspinner is the most experienced bowler in the side.
In the team which included Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and
COLOMBO: