Published: Feb 12, 2014, 04:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 13, 2014, 09:38 PM (IST)
Feb 12, 2014
Australia reached 81 for three against South Africa in the first session of the opening day of the first Test, at the SuperSports Park in Centurion on Wednesday.
After putting Australia to bat, South Africa reduced the tourists to 24 for two with their strike bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel providing crucial breakthroughs.
David Warner struck two boundaries in the first over of the match off Steyn, but the South African pacer had the last laugh as he got the left-handed batsman in the fourth over. Warner tried to cut a delivery outside the off-stump, but got an inside edge and the ball went on to crash into the leg stump.
Soon in the ninth over, Morkel squared up Chris Rogers with one that bounced a bit too much, and JP Duminy took a splendid catch at the short-leg position to get rid of the Australian opener.
After the early blows, debutant Alex Doolan and Shaun Marsh combined to take their side safely into the second session. They put up an unbeaten –run stand for the third wicket, keeping the South African bowlers at bay.
Doolan started off with a boundary towards the backward point, and had his share of luck as an edge off Philander fell short of the slip fielder and went for a boundary, while another off Steyn flew over the slips.
However, close to the lunch break, on a short delivery from Ryan McLaren he went for the pull shot but was caught at the short midwicket for 27. Doolan faced 51 deliveries during his stay at the crease and hit five boundaries.
At lunch, Marsh was batting on 23, accompanied by Michael Clarke on 11.
Brief scores:
Australia 83 for 3 (Alex Doolan 27, Shaun Marsh 23*; Ryan Mclaren 1 for 8, Morne Morkel 1 for 23) vs South Africa.
