Key events
58th over: Australia 263-5 (Sutherland 62, Gardner 4) Ayanda Hlubi from the other end, the 19-year-old fast bowler, who doesn’t start with control. Too much width to Sutherland, who is able to square drive a boundary, then play the next one down through the cordon on the bounce for another.
57th over: Australia 255-5 (Sutherland 54, Gardner 4) Klaas to start the day, who bowled so well to start with yesterday in taking the first three wickets in no time. Hits a pretty good length this over too, except for one overpitched ball that Gardner immediately drives through mid off for four.
Here’s the wires report on yesterday’s play.
“No real plan,” says Healy. “We’ve just to get through this first half hour. We’re going to have to work hard in this little session to earn the right to set the game up.”
Well, yes. But if they get through the first half hour safely, you would think they could put the foot down until lunch, and even if they’re bowled out they’ll be miles ahead and in a good position for an innings win. No point wasting time in a four-day game.
Preamble
Geoff Lemon
Hello. it’s day two. Yesterday we had a match that began in fast forward – eight South African wickets fell before lunch at the WACA, the innings wrapped up quickly after the first break, then three Australian batters fell equally quickly. Litchfield, Perry, McGrath all went and Australia were in trouble, but Mooney and Healy stopped the trouble and they built to a strong lead before both were out late in the day.
What does today hold? It’s much cooler than day one – currently around the 24C mark, with a high expected of just 27C.
Annabel Sutherland (54 not out) and Ash Gardner (yet to score) will take to the crease shortly to resume Australia’s innings, already 175 in front and entirely in control of this match. Let’s get into it.
