Toss and early setback
South Africa captain Bavuma won the toss and decided to bowl after seeing the overcast weather. This decision proved right in the beginning when Australia’s new top three batsmen returned to the pavilion before lunch. The team was at 146/4, but despite the set Steve Smith,Scorecard they could not bring stability.
Steve Smith’s struggle and Markram’s magic
Steve Smith stayed despite the flu and was expected to take the innings forward. But Aiden Markram surprised everyone by dismissing him with a shocking ball. Markram himself was surprised and said, “I have not been able to understand how he got out yet!”
Last five wickets – fell for just 20 runs
Australia was at Scorecard 192/5 and looked to be making a good score, but the last five wickets fell for just 20 runs. Despite Webster getting a lifeline, the team faltered. This exposes the weakness of Australia’s batting.
Mitchell Starc’s explosive start
For Australia, Mitchell Starc once again took a wicket in the very first over. He bowled Markram on an incoming ball. Starc could have got the second wicket sooner, but Carey dropped an easy catch of Mulder.
Slow innings of Mulder and Bavuma
Mulder, who was batting at number three for only the third time, could score only 6 runs in 44 balls. At the same time, captain Bavuma was also struggling. Together, they added only 8 runs in 81 balls, which kept the pressure on South Africa’s innings.
Hazlewood’s return and Stubbs’ wicket
Josh Hazlewood, who returned after injury, bowled brilliantly. He bowled Tristan Stubbs on a ball that came back in and scattered the stumps. This gave Australia a strong position and exposed SA’s batting order concerns.
Floodlights and heavy clouds – special atmosphere
The day started with floodlights and there were thick clouds in the sky. The first three overs of the Test match were maiden, which happened for the first time since 2020. The first run came on the 21st ball, which gives an idea of the condition of the batsmen.
Marnus Labuschagne’s new role
Marnus Labuschagne played the role of Test opener for the first time and scored the opening runs. However, fellow batsman Khawaja kept struggling. This was a new start for Labuschagne, in which he showed confidence.
Khawaja’s old weakness exposed again
Khwaja did not even open his account before getting out on the 20th ball. Rabada bowled him round the wicket and Bedingham took a good catch in the slip. This has become a pattern for Khawaja – his average against round the wicket bowlers is constantly falling.
Unstable batting of both teams
While Australia’s innings collapsed suddenly, South Africa’s batting looked even more unstable. Questions were raised about the batting line-up of both teams. The sun came out at the end of the day, but the scoreboard remained cloudy.
June 11, 2025