A combined bowling effort despite the loss of Dale Steyn, and a much-improved batting performance helped South Africa fight back to reach a position of strength on the second day of the opening Test against Australia in Perth on Friday.
South Africa was under the pump when the day began, with Australia resuming on 105 for no loss and quickly cruising to 158 in its reply to the visiting side's first-innings score of 242. However, Australia lost all 10 wickets for the addition of just 86 runs to lead by only two on the first innings, bowled out for 244 in 70.2 overs.
South Africa lost Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla early in its second innings but Dean Elgar (46*) and JP Duminy (34*) rebuilt and took it to 104 for 2 at stumps, extending its lead to 102.
The first hour of the day belonged to Australia, but the rest was all about South Africa taking control. David Warner, who had blasted his way to 73 on the first day, looked set for his fourth century at the WACA ground but once he fell for 97, Australia lost its way, losing four wickets for just 23 runs.
It was Steyn who provided the vital breakthrough, forcing Warner to edge to first slip. Steyn left the field for scans on his troublesome right shoulder before lunch, just after claiming Warner's wicket, and did not return for the remainder of the innings. It was later confirmed that Steyn would take no further part in the series due to a fracture on the shoulder.
In his absence, Vernon Philander (4 for 56), Kagiso Rabada (2 for 78) and Keshav Maharaj (3 for 56), the debutant left-arm spinner, exposed the home side’s batting frailty.
mmediately after Steyn exited, Khawaja joined Warner back in the pavilion when he was clean-bowled by a beautiful inswinger from Rabada for 4.
South Africa's hopes were further boosted when Steven Smith was out for a duck after being adjudged lbw. Smith advanced well down the wicket to Maharaj and was struck on the knee roll. He called for a decision review, which showed the ball clipping the outside of the stumps, which is out under new rules introduced recently.
Philander then ran through the lower order, even as Peter Nevill (23) and Peter Siddle (18 not out) hit a few shots to give Australia a slender lead.
South Africa started its second essay in a sedate fashion before Siddle successfully tempted Cook to pull to midwicket to fall for 12. Amla, who scored a duck in the first innings soon followed, missing a big inswinger from Josh Hazlewood to fall for 1 and complete a disappointing Test.
With the lead only 43 at that stage, South Africa was in a bit of bother. However, the left-hand duo of Elgar and Duminy combined to give their side the edge again with an unbeaten 59-run stand. Elgar was solid throughout and even hit Nathan Lyon for a straight six, while Duminy batted in a typically busy manner as South Africa went past 100 without further damage.
South Africa return to Cardiff in June 2017 to face England in the final NatWest International T20 on June 25. CLICK here to secure your tickets for the match