Lunch Australia 95 for 3 (Smith 24*) v South Africa
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South Africa picked off three wickets in the opening session at Kingsmead after Steven Smith chose to bat, but Smith’s continued presence at the crease at lunch meant Australia still had hope of posting a healthy first-innings total. Smith was unbeaten on 24 as Australia went to the break on 95 for 3, having lost David Warner from the final ball of the session.
Warner fell for 51 to a sharp catch from AB de Villiers at second slip off Vernon Philander, and it was a particularly important blow for the South Africans to strike, given Warner’s powerful record in their country – in his previous six Test innings in South Africa, he had made 12, 115, 70, 66, 135 and 145. He had moved to his half-century from 72 balls, and compiled a 56-run stand with Smith for the third wicket.
There was no shortage of action in the opening session of the much-anticipated series, with South Africa using up their first review on the third ball of the match. Morne Morkel’s delivery to Cameron Bancroft was shown to be missing leg stump comfortably, and also too high, but it was not long before Bancroft edged behind to Philander, strangely walking across his stumps and wafting outside off in uncharacteristic fashion.
By the 11th over, South Africa had lost both reviews, as the first delivery from spinner Keshav Maharaj turned sharply in to Warner, who was struck on the leg, but the technology again showed the ball easily missing leg. However, in the next over South Africa had reason to celebrate when Kagiso Rabada struck in his first over, nibbling one away from Usman Khawaja, who edged behind and was brilliantly caught by a diving Quinton de Kock.
Australia found themselves wobbling at 39 for 2, but the confidence of Smith and Warner looked to have put Australia back on top as the session drew to a close. However, the loss of Warner on the stroke of lunch meant Smith would be joined immediately after the break by Shaun Marsh, and much pressure would be on Smith to continue his dominant form in Test cricket.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo