First Test as it happened: South Africa land double blow after Head runs riot
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Poll: Who wins from here?
How the South Africans rallied late
Video: The peach that removed Smith
Poll: Who wins from here?
Wicket: Rabada knocks over Boland to finish the day
Out! Scott Boland’s stay lasts just four balls as Rabada has him caught behind in the last over of the day. And they call stumps with it. What a day!
That’s five down and Australia trailing by seven runs. Travis Head 78 not out returns in the morning with Cameron Green to start his innings.
Australia 5/145: Head 78*
Scott Boland weilding the willow.Credit:Getty
Wicket: Smith bowled before stumps
Out! Steve Smith undone by Anrich Nortje for 36. That was a great ball and a breakthrough South Africa desperately needed with a length ball nipping back to beat the Australian vice-captain all ends up.
Big play with eight minutes still to come before the end of play. Scott Boland sent out as nightwatchman and throwing the bat around a little too!
Australia 4/144: Head 78* Boland 0*
The secret to Head’s success
As Travis Head continues to motor along at a run a ball, some interesting figures on his scoring rate in Test matches.
Head has been imperious when counterattacking at No.5 – both here and against England at Hobart last year. The South Australian has found himself most at home when he’s been playing effectively one-day cricket in whites and scoring almost twice as quickly as he did in the first three years of his career.
Perfect timing in more ways than one, Head punches Rabada down the ground for another boundary.
Australia 3/144: Smith 36* Head 78*
100 partnership is up in quick time
Travis Head smoking them now. Crunches Rabado through mid-off with imperious timing. At the other end, Steve Smith almost chops on from Ngidi.
That’s 100 between the pair from just 109 balls. Smith and Head average 63.25 in partnerships batting together and this is their third stand of 100 or more.
Australia 3/127: Smith 34* Head 63*
Shades of Gilly in how Head counterattacks
Video: Six to bring up Head’s 50
Travis Head has gone a tad mad – he was 2 from 16 balls not that long ago! Now he’s just whipped Ngidi for six over deep square leg with pure timing and has reached his half-century from just 48 balls.
Takes 14 from the over in total after bashing one through the covers and then leg glancing to the boundary.
Australia 3/115: Smith 28* Head 57*
Smith, Head go at a run-a-ball
Two more boundaries in this over as Rabada is brought back into the attack. Suddenly looks benign out there again as Smith crashes one through the covers, then Head whips off his pads to the rope as well.
South Africa losing their way all of a sudden as Travis Head especially takes the long handle to anyone sending them down to him.
Australia 3/101: Smith 28* Head 43*
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