Australia vs South Africa Test Series: The Boxing Day Test is being played at the iconic ground of MCG. After the end of play for the first dat, Australia trail by 144 runs with 9 wickets in hand.
Moreover, the man with a golden arm, Cameron Green with his brilliant bowling registered his maiden five-wicket haul in Test Cricket. It will be a bit more special as he did it on Boxing Day.
Cam Green picks up maiden fifer
While, Australia will be pretty satisfies with how things ended on day 1. Their bowlers initially struggled a bit to get the breakthrough, but it was Scott Boland who provided it. Then it was some individual brilliance from Marnus Labuschagne to run out Dean Elger which was a huge moment in the innings.
Cameron Green claimed Erwee’s wicket to put the touring party under pressure.
In the second session, the wicket became a little bit better for batting, Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne took full advantage of it. They were also helped a bit by the sloppy fielding as Usman Khawaja dropped a dolly off Jansen.
However, Cameron Green took the matter in his hands. As he got the best of both Jansen and Verreynne in the same over. Soon demolished the lower order of South Africa in a less than five overs.
In the post tea session, he ran riots with the ball in hand. First, it was Verreynne who was nicked out at slips followed by his partner Jansen. With the set batters gone, it was a matter ow how long South Africa could hold on as they struggled on 182 for 7. And Cameron Green ensured that it was not too long.
In the same over, he removed southpaw Rabada with a great delivery. A little help from Lyon, and Cameron Green had his fifth in the form of Ngidi with a jaffa that crashed into his off stump.
In his 10.4 over, Green gave 27 runs, with an impressive economy of 2.53. Apart from this with his disciplined balling, he bowled 3 maidens too.
Australia’s steady start
Coming to Australia’s inning so far, they have managed to put on solid 45 runs in just 12 overs. Their opening pair was rattled for the score of 21 when Khawaja was removed by Rabada. But David Warner has shown some good touch, playing in his 100th game.
He has managed to survive the final burst from Nortje and Jansen in the dying embers of the day. And will resume the day 2 at 31* runs off 51 balls.
Joining Warner in the middle will be Marnus “no run” Labuschagne. He has faced just 12 balls from which he managed to score 5 runs in this 24 run partnership. Jansen managed to perturb Marnus who looked a little lethargic on the crease.
However, Australia will be hoping for him to shrug that off and get them to a great start on Day 2.
South Africa on the contrary will be expecting to rattle the Australian top order with some sublime quick bowling.
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