Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Angled across the right hander, outside off, on a hard length. Wiaan lets it through.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Full, on the stumps, Mulder pushes it straight back to Starc.
Wiaan Mulder walks in next at number 3, replacing Ryan Rickelton.
What's happened here? Ryan Rickelton played a loose drive and got a nick behind. The Aussies are claiming the catch but Rickelton feels that it is a bump catch. Referred upstairs by the umpire and the first replay indicates that it is a clean catch!
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Australia get their first breakthrough and Starc, first frustrated the Proteas with the bat, has now drawn the first blood with the ball. Mitchell Starc bowls this full and gets an away shape from outside off. Ryan Rickelton tries to squeeze the ball through the off side, but it is a bit too full and hence, he does not lay the bat properly on it. The ball passes close to the bat and Alex Carey does the rest behind the wickets, with a dive to his left. EDGED? Or did the ball bounce off the bat? This is the question. However, the Aussies are celebrating in unison but there is no reaction by the umpire. Ryan Rickelton is not going anywhere. And the third umpire is summoned to check whether it is a bump ball. The first replay shows the ball bouncing before the bat. Next, the UltraEdge comes up and shows a clean spike when the ball is next to the outside edge. So, it is not a bump ball and is a clean catch. South Africa are 9/1 as Ryan Rickelton departs quite early.
A game comes to mind. It was between England and India, in Birmingham, in 2022. After posting 416 in the first innings, India managed a lead of 132. They then gave a target of 378 to England. And the hosts gunned it down with 7 wickets to spare. This was on Day 4 and then Day 5. Just goes to show, that in England, the pitches tend to get better as the days progress.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nice and full this time around, aimed at the stumps. Aiden Markram presses forward and defends it right under his eyes.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Keeps the line of attack on the off stump, does Josh Hazlewood, on a hard length. Aiden Markram weighs on the back foot and punches through the cover-point region for two runs.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Straight and full, on off, Aiden Markram respects this and blocks it out.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nagging length, on the stumps, worked to the mid on region.
Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, EDGED, SHORT! Full, outside off, Ryan Rickelton goes for the drive through the off side, but gets a thick healthy outside edge. The ball just doesn't get to the slip fielder. Beau Webster gets a bit of hand on the ball on his dive at second slip, and the ball rolls behind. Steve Smith from first slip chases it away as the ball slows down. A single taken.
Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, Across the batter, and fuller, around off. Ryan Rickelton makes the leave.
Absolutely no sign of swing in that opening over. Josh Hazlewood will share the new ball with Starc.
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Back of a length, on the top of off, Ryan Rickelton gets on the back foot and works this to the mid off region for a quick single.
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Sprays this further down the leg stump now, Ryan lets it pass.
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Intent straightaway from Ryan Rickelton as he gets off the mark! A bit of a loosener from Starc, pushing it to the leg stump line, full in length. Ryan Rickelton flicks this through the square leg region for a boundary.
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, This one curves away a bit on and around off, on a length. Ryan Rickelton prods forward and blocks it out.
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, Bangs the ball hard onto the surface, does Starc, on middle. Ryan Rickelton hops a bit across and knocks the ball on the pitch.
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Markram and South Africa are underway in the chase. Starc begins from over the stumps, gets a bit of inward shape on middle, on a length. Aiden Markram stays leg side of the ball and taps it in front of mid off for a single.