![South Africa reduced to 40/4 in Gqeberha [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792422732238_AidenMarkramSAvsAUSTest.jpg?type=hq)
South Africa reduced to 40/4 in Gqeberha [Source: AFP]
South Africa find themselves in all sorts of trouble in Gqeberha on Day 2 of the second Test against Australia, having slipped into a mini-collapse in a rain-curtailed game. Batting has been a nagging issue for the hosts, having already been outplayed in Durban last week.
This is a do-or-die Test, wherein the Proteas are in danger of losing the series early and also letting the bragging rights slip against one of their fiercest opponent. They also created an unprecedented and unfortunate record on Day 2 but still have a chance to fight back in the match.
South Africa stunned by Aussie new ball attack
Having lost the toss, South Africa were asked to bat first in the second Test. In the midst of the stop-start first couple of days, they faced some serious heat from the Aussie pace quartet, led by Scott Boland.
In just over 21 overs played, for the first time at home since the Johannesburg Test in 1966, South Africa lost four wickets for 40 or fewer runs.
Boland, who missed the first Test got rid of in-form Aiden Markram with his classic nip-backer to break the stumps, followed by David Bedingham’s nick to the wicketkeeper on the very next ball on Day 1. As the Day 2 began, debutant Marques Ackerman chased a delivery way outside off and edged one to Carey.
Finally, Mitchell Starc returned to the attack, and Matthew Breetzke gave him a welcome gift with a loose shot, edging to Carey. South Africa’s score read 40/4 in 21.3 overs — for the first time since 1966.
In the aforementioned incident, SA were 35/4 at one point and got all out for 199 in the first innings. However, they racked up 620 in the next innings and subsequently won the match by 233 runs — something they would like to replicate this week.
Rain adds to South Africa’s troubles
The visiting captain Pat Cummins won the toss for the second Test on Sunday morning. The conditions were overcast and Australia drew the first blow, asking the hosts to bat first.
As South Africa took the field, they sent in Marques Ackerman as their newest opener on debut. Usually a middle order batter, Ackerman had to face heat of the Aussie attack and couldn't get going due to the frequent breaks in the match.
Loose shots, chasing balls outside off did not help the batters, but the moist and overcast conditions were heavily in favour of the bowlers, with the ball nipping and moving nicely.
