South Africa v Australia

Boland to Bavuma, no run beats him outside off. Full length. But nowhere near drivable. On a fifth stump line so he has to play. Bavuma does well for his part again, not following the seam movement away. 2.30pm There's still a drizzle on. The covers aren't going anywhere. More are coming on actually, says Gnasher from the ground. The fans, without any cricket to imbibe, have sought out a more conventional high with drinks in their hands. So how're y'all keeping yourselves busy during the rain break? Wrong answers only. Here's Shashwat btw. What's he been doing since he disappeared? Odinlass: "I am studying Koine Greek." Uhhh τέλειο "testing my new 9 iron with my tempered window" Azza's not g1st innings · SA 20/2

A heavy mist has descended around the city, hiding the tall buildings away and turning the bay so very murky Boland to Bavuma, no run pulls his bottom hand off the bat as he defends. Short leg has been added in to keep Bavuma company1st innings · SA 20/2

Cummins to Ackerman, no run blocks a back of a length delivery just outside off1st innings · SA 20/2

Cummins to Ackerman, no run he's hurrying the batters off the pitch - Boland and Hazlewood and Starc couldn't do that. A desperate Ackerman tries to work it off his pads and just wears it in the end1st innings · SA 20/2

Hazlewood testing out his left knee, which dug into the turf a bit while fielding Cummins to Ackerman, 2 runs takes on the short ball with a swivel pull - he's late on the shot and it goes off the arm guard - down to deep fine1st innings · SA 20/2

Cummins to Ackerman, no run drifts down the pads and through to the keeper1st innings · SA 18/2

Cummins to Ackerman, no run the length forces him back in his crease, he waits for it to get under his eyes and then tucks it to midwicket Tom: "Scott Boland is 37. He's had at least 5 years of being stuck behind the big 3. Where would he rate if he had played for another country and not had to fight for a spot?" G.O.Paul: "@Tom - Dont get me started. It is Stuart Laws birthday today. a Batsman who doesn't have an average!"1st innings · SA 18/2

Cummins takes over from Hazlewood Cummins to Ackerman, no run he's happy to skip down the pitch, done it multiple times. Here his push goes to mid-on1st innings · SA 18/2

Boland to Bavuma, no run immaculate length again. Bavuma can do nothing more than block on off stump JJ: "boland bowling average keeps getting bettter"1st innings · SA 18/2

Boland to Bavuma, no run pulls his bat inside the line, so that's deliberate so technically he isn't beaten by this back of a length ball outside off1st innings · SA 18/2

Boland to Bavuma, FOUR outside edge past the cordon. Bavuma goes at the ball this time. Hands leading the body. The seam movement beats the middle, takes the edge and scuttles between gully and third slip1st innings · SA 18/2

Boland to Bavuma, no run rippah! Boland is willing to gamble on the fuller length. His USP is seam movement. There's 9mm of grass enabling that. So he's right to gamble. Bavuma does well here too, defending down the original line and is happy to get beaten1st innings · SA 14/2

Boland to Bavuma, no run very competent block from Bavuma. Hands low and close to the body.1st innings · SA 14/2

Boland to Ackerman, 1 run good push forward into the ball just outside off stump and gets a single in front of cover1st innings · SA 14/2

Hazlewood to Bavuma, no run blocks it on middle stump, looking for a run to cover, nothing there1st innings · SA 13/2

Hazlewood to Bavuma, no run good length ball outside off, no shot jimmy: "bit of Crawley in Markram. looks so assured against higher pace but he immediately looked worse against slower nibble"1st innings · SA 13/2

Hazlewood to Bavuma, no run 'oooh' is the shout as Bavuma is struck on the midriff, ball ricocheting off the glove, by a short of a length delivery that cuts in off the pitch.1st innings · SA 13/2

Hazlewood to Bavuma, no run solid front foot block with Hazlewood searching for the top of off stump. Looks like he's pushed his length fuller having seen Boland do so from the other end1st innings · SA 13/2

Hazlewood to Bavuma, no run keeps low? Bavuma reacts as though it does after defending on the back foot and then pushing the bat down after playing the shot1st innings · SA 13/2

Ozbald : "It feels like Boland gets two wickets in an over waaaay more than anyone else? At least as a percentage of bowling time that he gets." Hazlewood to Ackerman, 1 run glances it off his hips down to deep fine1st innings · SA 13/2

Boland to Bavuma, no run appeal but muffled immediately because they realise there's an inside edge onto the pad so no lbw. Picture perfect delivery again, drawing Bavuma forward around off stump and then nipping in off the seam. The movement is so late because the length is so full1st innings · SA 12/2

Boland to Bedingham, OUT two in two! Boland's accuracy is making things happen for Australia. New batter goes feeling for one outside off. This time it seams away. Snags the edge of a half-hearted push down the ground. Simple catch for Carey. Temba Bavuma, who already called how difficult it might be to bat in these conditions, is now facing a hat-trick ball. Four slips and a gully in lunch: "I guess Lyon can't complain this time "1st innings · SA 12/2

Boland to Markram, OUT inside edge onto the stumps. Markram looked so good. He was so judicious about what to play and what to leave. So Boland had to be perfect to produce the mistake. The length to draw him forward and think about the drive but nowhere near the half-volley that makes the shot riskfree. Australia's metronome hits it. His wobble seam gets the ball to nip in. Beat the middle of the bat. Snag the inside half and crash into the sticks, producing a doleful clang.1st innings · SA 12/1

Boland to Markram, no run tucks it to midwicket1st innings · SA 12/0

Boland to Markram, no run covers the line of a probing delivery on off stump and pushes it to cover1st innings · SA 12/0

Tim: "Early impression...this looks like one of those wickets and conditions that looks like it should be doing all sorts, but actually turns out to be pretty flat." The lack of pace right now might be playing a part there. Batters have time to adjust even if they initially go with hard hands Boland to Markram, no run shoulders arms to the good length ball outside off1st innings · SA 12/0

Hazlewood to Ackerman, no run walks at Hazlewood now just as he did against Boland earlier. Hazlewood adjusts his length, goes shorter and forces a block1st innings · SA 12/0

Hazlewood to Ackerman, no run good leave. The length might have drawn other people for a drive but Ackerman is very wary1st innings · SA 12/0

Hazlewood to Ackerman, no run cramps him with a back of a length ball from around the wicket. Ackerman drops it by his feet, using soft hands1st innings · SA 12/0

Hazlewood to Markram, 1 run plays late, plays close to his body and finds a comfortable single to long leg. Good technique1st innings · SA 12/0

Hazlewood to Markram, no run sharp bouncer, which evades the keeper. Markram clocks it through and drops his wrists and sways his head away1st innings · SA 11/0

Hazlewood to Markram, no run excellent leave. Markram covers his stumps with his front foot stride and lets it go outside his eyeline1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland to Ackerman, no run clips it from middle and off to midwicket1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland to Ackerman, no run keeps him honest with a good length ball on middle1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland to Ackerman, no run flashes hard and for no gains. The ball being full and wide was his trigger to go for the big shot. He doesn't coonect1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland to Ackerman, no run steps out of his crease now and nudges the pitched up delivery to mid-on1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland to Ackerman, no run beats him. Wobble seam. Into the wicket. Just back of a length. The angle forces the shot from the batter. He has no chance with the late movement1st innings · SA 11/0

Boland steps in for the off-colour Starc. Around the wicket to the left-hander Boland to Ackerman, no run good length, outside off, leaves it1st innings · SA 11/0

Hazlewood to Markram, no run firm block down the pitch1st innings · SA 11/0

Hazlewood to Markram, no run shifts back in response to the length but lets go with the line outside off1st innings · SA 11/0

Hazlewood to Markram, no run back of a length and outside off, blocks it1st innings · SA 11/0

Ackerman looking a little twitchy Hazlewood to Ackerman, 1 run off the mark at the 15th time of asking. And this will be a weight off his shoulders. Shortish outside off. Ackerman rides the bounce and guides it past gully. Relieved faces all around! 1pm The rain is gone. The groundstaff are peeling off the covers. There's an umpire in the middle checking things out as well, and sticking the stumps back in. We should be getting play again very soon. New session timings: 1.20pm to 3.40pm and 4pm to 6pm with the lofty aim of getting in 72 overs. AB: "On the other side of the rain, with more moisture in the air and ball still holds just new, Starc is going to cause massive trouble for the batter1st innings · SA 11/0

A slight mizzle at the ground. Hazlewood applying some sawdust where he lands. Around the wicket Hazlewood to Ackerman, no run fuller outside off. Ackerman skips down the track before poking it towards mid off1st innings · SA 10/0

Jazz: "Mitchell Starc does have these weird stretches where he looks like he's never going to take a wicket ever again, and this is one of them. " -- And still you can never write off a champion like him. A member of the ground staff was ready to come out with a bucket of sawdust, only to be waved away. Hazlewood to Ackerman, no run length just outside off. Ackerman comes onto the front foot and blocks1st innings · SA 10/0

around the wicket now Starc to Markram, no run back of a length outside off. Markram watches it go through to the keeper1st innings · SA 10/0

Starc still not happy about the landing area. Back to over the wicket, but Starc has to pull out of his run-up late due to a gust of wind Starc to Markram, FOUR lovely! Full outside off and Markram is onto it in a flash. He gets a good stride in, gets his hands through the ball and threads it through cover!1st innings · SA 10/0

Starc to Markram, no run too wide again. Shortish too and Markram leaves it well alone1st innings · SA 6/0

Starc to Markram, no run back of a length just outside off. Markram waits for it and meets the ball right under his eyes1st innings · SA 6/0

Change of angle is perhaps the clearest indication yet that there is not a lot of swing on offer Starc to Markram, 2 runs fullish just outside off. Markram comes forward and dangles his bat, squirting it off the inside edge behind square. Back for a brace1st innings · SA 6/0