South Africa vs Australia 1st Test | SA bowled out for 152 on Day 1
The Hindu
Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took early wickets to leave South Africa reeling on the first day of the first Test between the sides in Brisbane
Pat Cummins' gamble to bowl first reaped instant rewards Saturday as Australia's attack dismissed South Africa for 152 before tea on Day 1 of the three-Test series.
Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Scott Boland took early wickets to have South Africa reeling at 27-4 before Kyle Verreynne (64) and Temba Bavuma (38) combined in a 98-run fifth-wicket stand to stem the flow until the middle session.
Starc ended that defiance when he dismissed Bavuma and then off-spinner Nathan Lyon accelerated another slide with three wickets.
Starc had South Africa skipper Dean Elgar (3) out, gloving a legside catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the fifth over, before Cummins and Scott Boland took three wickets in 11 deliveries as South Africa slumped to 27-4 in the 11th over after being sent in on a green pitch and under overcast conditions.
It's the first Test series between the two countries since the so-called Sandpapergate scandal in South Africa in 2018 that rocked Australian cricket, and the ball-tampering saga was the main talking point ahead of the first Test.
Cummins made an effort to steer the conversation around Australia's bowling attack in a different direction by taking the risk of bowling first after winning the toss at the Gabba. He was the first Australian captain to do that in 22 years since Stephen Waugh led Australia to an innings victory against West Indies in 2000.
Lyon returned 3-14 from eight overs, troubling the lower order, with Starc collecting 3-41 from 14, narrowly missing out on his 300th Test wicket when Travis Head put down a sharp, juggling catch at short leg. Cummins (2-25) and Boland (2-28) each took a pair as the front-line bowlers all chipped in.