PORT ELIZABETH – South Africa inched to a position of strength in the second Test at St George’s Park at lunch on day two.
The Proteas were 110/2, losing only the wicket of nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada for 29, in the morning session. They are now only 133 runs in arrears of Australia’s 243.
Rabada, who survived a torrent abuse from the Australian fielders on Friday evening in the twilight, came out determined to keep his wicket for as long possible.
He was visibly disappointed when he edged Pat Cummins on to his stumps for Australia’s only breakthrough of the morning.
The visitors thought they had Hashim Amla a few balls later, but South Africa’s senior batsmen survived the umpire’s on-field decision when the DRS showed the ball to be hitting outside the line off stump.
All the while, Dean Elgar looked composed at the other end to finish on 38 not out while Amla will return on 31.
Elgar had some tricky moments against Nathan Lyon’s left-arm spin, but counter-attacked by utilising the sweep shot from outside the rough.