Australia tightened their grip on the first Test at Kingsmead on the fourth morning, racing to 110-2 and taking their advantage over South Africa beyond 200. A whirlwind 48 from Nic Maddinson, a nasty blow to Steve Smith's helmet and an increasingly fluent Marnus Labuschagne made for a breathless first hour in Durban.
Key takeaways
- The score: Australia 110-2 after 19 overs of their second innings (Labuschagne 23*, Smith 18*).
- Where they started: 33 without loss overnight, already 139 runs in front.
- Maddinson's answer: a counter-attacking 48, ended when Anrich Nortje knocked over two of his stumps.
- Head's struggles go on: Travis Head fell cheaply again, caught at mid-on off Marco Jansen.
- Scare for Smith: hit on the back of the helmet by a Nortje bouncer, he carried on after a change of headgear.
A Test running behind schedule
Day four in name, the match is closer to day three in substance. Bad light has cut every evening short so far, leaving only around 220 overs bowled out of a possible 270 – and with the same expected again today, time is becoming a factor. Conditions in Durban were sunny, humid and 27C at the start of play.
For South Africa the task was clear: with Australia resuming well ahead, the hosts realistically needed to bowl them out for something close to 150 to keep a chase within reach. They have fond fourth-innings memories from the World Test Championship final, but a poor first-innings showing with the bat here to make up for.
Maddinson comes out swinging
Under scrutiny after a strokeless first innings, Nic Maddinson returned with a completely different approach. He slashed Wiaan Mulder for four from the second ball of the morning and barely stopped: anything wide was thrown at, edges flew over and through the slips, and when South Africa turned to spin he skipped down the pitch and launched Simon Harmer for six over the bowler's head.
It was thrilling and, at times, fortunate – more a batter determined not to repeat his first-innings paralysis than a template for opening in Test cricket. The ride ended on 48, when Anrich Nortje, coming around the wicket, fired in a fast, full delivery at the base of middle stump and left only one stump standing.
Head falls, Nortje turns up the heat
South Africa's first breakthrough had come earlier, and it extended Travis Head's lean run. Trying to turn Marco Jansen into the leg side, he got a leading edge that looped gently to the home captain at mid-on, leaving Australia 43-1.
Nortje, back in the long format after a lengthy absence, then produced the most hostile spell of the morning. With men posted for the short ball, a bouncer struck Steve Smith on the back of the helmet. It was a glancing blow, and after a long delay for replacement headgear he was able to continue. The very next delivery reared at Labuschagne's throat and was fended away off the gloves.
The morning in numbers
- 43-1: Head caught at mid-on off Jansen.
- 72-2: Maddinson bowled by Nortje for 48.
- 100 up in the 17th over: Smith hits three fours from three legal deliveries.
- 110-2 after 19 overs: Labuschagne 23*, Smith 18*.
Smith and Labuschagne settle in
The response from Australia's two senior batters was emphatic. Labuschagne played the shot of the session, a swivelling one-legged pull off Nortje at full pace, and followed it by crashing the next loose ball through the covers. Smith survived an lbw appeal after an uncharacteristic sweep at Harmer, then cashed in when Nortje strayed far outside off stump – reaching for deliveries he could barely get bat on and still sending three of them to the boundary in a 14-run over that brought up the hundred.
South Africa responded with spin from both ends, Keshav Maharaj joining Harmer, but Labuschagne greeted the change by driving Maharaj through midwicket for four. Having looked in fine touch in the first innings as well, he has the platform to go on to a big score.
Lyon: fitter than ever at 38
Australia's dominance has been built on their vastly experienced four-man attack, and Nathan Lyon, who took 2-58 on day three, says he has never been in better condition. The off-spinner, who turns 39 soon, credits a demanding fitness programme and giving up alcohol.
"The amount of work that I've put in, I've never had any doubt that I'll get back. I haven't had any alcohol for a fair while now, but I'm just trying to squeeze as much out of the lemon as possible that I can. I still feel like there's a lot of decent cricket ahead of me, that's for sure."
— Nathan Lyon, Australia spinner
The bottom line
South Africa needed quick wickets and got only two, at a heavy cost in runs. With the lead already past 200, eight wickets in hand and two set batters at the crease, Australia are firmly in control – the main question now is whether the fading Durban light leaves them enough time to finish the job.
