Australia in control at lunch in first Test against South Africa

Australia in control at lunch in first Test against South Africa

At lunch, Verreynne was on 35 and Bavuma 21, the pair having put on 57 runs for the fifth wicket.

Temba Bavuma - AFP
AAMIR QURESHI / AFP

Australia took control in the opening session of the first Test against South Africa at Brisbane's Gabba ground on Saturday with the visitors reeling at 84-4 at lunch.


After Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat on a green wicket under cloudy skies, South Africa slumped to 27-4 after 11 overs.


A fightback from Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma rescued the visitors from complete annihilation, but the Australians will feel vindicated by Cummins' decision to go against the norm in Brisbane by bowling first.


At lunch, Verreynne was on 35 and Bavuma 21, the pair having put on 57 runs for the fifth wicket.


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The morning conditions had looked ideal for Australia's potent pace attack, but Mitchell Starc and Cummins were wayward early, causing no real problems for the batters.


Starc began the rot with the first ball of the third over when South African captain Dean Elgar tickled a ball down the leg side to keeper Alex Carey.


Cummins began to find his line and length and was next to strike, with Rassie van der Dussen getting a faint edge to a ball that moved off the seam to leave South Africa 27-2.


That soon became 27-3 when Sarel Erwee got a thick edge off Scott Boland for Cameron Green to take a brilliant catch in the gully, low and to his left.


Two balls later it was 27-4 when Boland trapped Khaya Zondo lbw for a duck.


But Verreynne decided to play his strokes, and with Bavuma grafting at the other end, they began the recovery.


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