South Africa 97-5 vs Australia: Boland Takes 4-31 on Day Two

South Africa closed day two of the second Test against Australia on 97 for 5 at St George's Park in Gqeberha, after rain washed out the first two sessions and only about 30 overs were possible in the final session of the day.

Scott Boland was the bowler who did the damage. He finished the day with 4 for 31 from 14 overs, adding two wickets to the two he took in two balls on the rain-hit first day. Mitchell Starc took the other wicket, with 1 for 27.

South Africa resumed at 20 for 2. Boland struck first on day two, with debutant Marques Ackerman caught behind for 6. Starc then removed Matthew Breetzke, also caught behind, for 4, and the hosts were 40 for 4.

Captain Temba Bavuma held the innings together. He batted through to the close unbeaten on 41 from 108 balls, and shared a fifty partnership for the fifth wicket with Ryan Rickelton, who made 31. Rickelton fell late in the day, caught by Matt Renshaw at slip off Boland with a one-handed catch low to his right, after Alex Carey did not go for the edge. Wiaan Mulder was with Bavuma at the close on 2 not out.

Australia played without Josh Hazlewood on day two. He missed the day through illness and is expected to be available for the rest of the Test, the Associated Press reported.

South Africa are the reigning world Test champions, but they trail 1-0 in the three-match series after a 214-run defeat in the first Test in Durban. Play is scheduled to resume on day three on Tuesday, with South Africa still 92 runs short of a hundred and five wickets down in their first innings.