Lunch Australia 300 for 8 (M Marsh 60*) v South Africa
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Mitchell Marsh brought up his half-century and Mitchell Starc provided an entertaining lower-order cameo as Australia pushed their total to 300 for 8 by lunch on the second day against South Africa in Durban. The Australians started the morning on 225 for 5 and South Africa were hoping to end the innings quickly after Tim Paine fell early to the second new ball, but Marsh stuck around and at the break was unbeaten on 60, with Starc having fallen on the last ball of the session.
Keshav Maharaj picked up two more wickets and went to lunch with 4 for 103, but it was Kagiso Rabada with the second new ball who made the initial breakthrough when he lured Paine into an edge behind on 25. Pat Cummins joined Marsh for a dour partnership that eked out 14 runs in 10 overs, and Australia spent much of the session seeking just to preserve their wickets. Cummins was bowled for 3 from 38 balls when Maharaj found a way through his gap.
However, Starc was in no mood to continue the defensive approach, and clubbed two sixes over deep midwicket off Maharaj, along with four fours – three of which came in one over against Morne Morkel. But on 35 from 25 deliveries, Starc too misread the line against Maharaj and was bowled, just failing to see out the session.
Meanwhile, Marsh remained solid and raised his half-century from his 125th delivery, then moving past Steven Smith and David Warner to be Australia’s top scorer of the innings. It continued Marsh’s excellent batting form since his recall to the Test side during the Ashes – in the five innings he has played since his return, he has made 181, 9, 29 not out, 101 and now a so-far unbeaten 60.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo