Bavuma fifty in vain as Proteas suffer series defeat at MCG

Temba Bavuma made a gritty half-century, but South Africa were bowled out for 204 to lose the second test on day four against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Australia won by an innings and 182 runs as they clinch the three-match test series 2-0, with the New Year’s test still remaining.

Resuming after lunch on 120-4, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as South Africa lost all six wickets before tea.

Bavuma silenced critics as he notched up a gritty 20th test half-century to give the Proteas some sustenance with the bat.

A 63-run partnership between Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne steadied the tourists after losing three wickets in the morning session.

However, three overs after lunch, Verreynne was trapped on the knee roll LBW by Scott Boland.

The umpire gave it out and Verreynne sent it upstairs, but ball-tracking showed all red and the Proteas wicketkeeper-batter departed for 33 off 40 balls (hitting five fours).

Allrounder Marco Jansen could only score five before he was trapped LBW by spinner Nathan Lyon.

Jansen was struck on the back leg, and while the umpire said ‘no’, skipper Pat Cummins reviewed. DRS showed that the ball would have crashed into the top of leg stump, and Jansen had to walk back to the changing room.

UNFORTUNATE RUN-OUT

New batter Keshav Maharaj joined Bavuma, but a mix-up in the middle saw the end of Maharaj after an unfortunate run-out.

Maharaj slapped the ball through the covers, looking for three, but Bavuma hesitated and went back with Maharaj already halfway down.

Labuschagne’s throw came back to bowler Mitchell Starc as Maharaj was comfortably short of his crease and departed for 13.

The Proteas soon lost their only glimmer of hope at the stroke of tea, as Bavuma lost concentration and top-edged a wide delivery from Lyon and was caught at deep mid-wicket.

Bavuma departed for a gritty 65 off 144 balls (hitting six fours) as South Africa continued to crumbled at the MCG.

Lyon then got Kagiso Rabada (3) to slog sweep and top-edge the ball, offering Cummins a simple catch at mid-on.

Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje (8*) had nothing to lose and slapped several boundaries as South Africa passed 200 total for the first time in eight innings.

CRACKING STARC

However, Ngidi was eventually undone by part-timer Steve Smith, who bowled him out for 19 off 21 balls (hitting two fours and a six).

Lyon was the pick of the hosts’ bowling line-up as he took three wickets for 58.

Resuming overnight on day four on 15-1, the Proteas lost Sarel Erwee, who was trapped LBW by a cracking yorker from Starc as he departed for 21.

De Bruyn looked positive but could only score 28 off 68 balls before he edged Scott Boland to Steve Smith at second slip.

A Travis Head underarm throw easily ran out Khaya Zondo for one.

However, it was David Warner’s double century and Alex Carey’s maiden test ton that put Australia in firm control as the hosts declared on 575-8, setting up a deficit of 386.

This followed South Africa being bundled out for 189 in the first innings thanks to Cameron Green’s maiden five-wicket haul.

The third and final test will take place on 4 January 2023 at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 1:30am CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Report Day 1Report Day 2Report Day 3

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi