Cricket Highlights, 30 Dec: AUS vs SA (2nd Test)

AUS vs SA (2nd Test)

Hosts Australia has defeated visiting South Africa by a big margin in the Boxing Day Test. The Aussies won by an innings and 182 runs on the fourth day of the Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). As a result of this victory, Australia clinched the title of the series with a 2-0 lead.

After South Africa was bowled out for 189 in their first innings, Australia declared their first innings at 575 for 8. South Africa finished the third day’s game with 15 runs losing a 1 wicket in their second innings staying 386 runs behind. In the end, the Proteas’ innings ended with only 204 runs in 68.5 overs on the 4th day.

Temba Bavuma top-scored with 65 runs for the visitors. Kyle Verreynne scored 33 runs. Theunis de Bruyn got 28 runs. Sarel Erwee made 21 runs. Lungi Ngidi scored 19 runs. The South African batsmen could not create any strong resistance in front of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. Lyon picked up 3, Boland got 2, and Pat Cummins, Starc, and Steven Smith took 1 wicket each.  Australia won the three-match Test series by a margin of 2-0.

With the win, Pat Cummins’ team reached the final of the World Test Championship. Australia tops the ICC World Test Championship Points Table with 132 points in 14 matches (78.57% points). India is on second with 99 points (58.93% points) playing the same number of matches.

Earlier, Aussie pacer Cameron Green was on fire with the ball in the first innings. In the Melbourne Test, South Africa’s innings were wrapped up in 189 runs by this Australian right-arm pacer. The Aussies won the toss and sent the Proteas to bat first. Dean Elgar’s team made a good start when they came out to bat. At one time, their score was 58 runs for 1 wicket. From there, the visitors were cornered by losing 5 wickets for 67 runs.

Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen took the team forward in that situation. They almost overcame the team’s danger by putting up 112 runs together. But the Proteas’ innings crumbled again after Verreynne was caught by Green in the 65th over with 52 runs. The right-handed pacer picked up Jansen (59) in the next over. Losing the last 5 wickets for 10 runs, the visitors’ innings stopped at 189 runs in 68.4 overs.

Chris Green took the maximum number of 5 wickets for the hosts conceding just 27 runs. Besides, Mitchell Starc took 2 wickets, and Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland took 1 wicket each.

Batting in response, Australia declared their innings by collecting a huge score of 575 runs for 8 wickets based on David Warner’s double century, Alex Carey’s century, and three half-centuries by their batters. Playing his 100th Test, Warner hit 16 boundaries and 2 sixes, completing a double century off 254 balls. Earlier he played 144 balls to complete his 25th career century.

David Warner left the field injured after scoring a double-century. Before that, the Australian opener had achieved a rare feat. He became the second batsman to score a double century in the 100th Test. So far England’s Joe Root was sitting alone in this seat, who became the first batsman to score a double century in the 100th Test. David Warner became the second batsman to achieve this feat. However, Warner is the 10th batsman to score a century in the 100th Test.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey played an innings of 111 runs off 149 balls. This is the first century by an Australian wicketkeeper in Tests since 2013. Brad Haddin was the last wicket-keeper batsman who scored a century. Besides, Steven Smith made 85, Travis Head got 51, and Cameron Green scored 51 runs.

Anrich Nortje took the highest number of 2 wickets for South Africa. Besides, Kagiso Rabada picked up 2 wickets and Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen took 1 wicket each.

David Warner has been named player of the match after scoring a double century in the 100th test of his career. These two teams will face each other in the 3rd and last match of the series on January 04 (Wednesday) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

AUS vs SA Scoreboard

South Africa (1st Innings) – 189/10 (68.4)

Australia (1st Innings) – 575/8 (D) (145.0)

South Africa (2nd Innings) – 204/10 (68.5)

Result – Australia won by an innings and 182 runs

Player of the match – David Warner

AUS vs SA Playing Xis