Match Details

AUS vs SA 1st Test, AUS vs SA 2022-23

AUS 218(50.3)

35-47.5

Australia won by 6 wickets 🏆

152(48.2)

37.499-10

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12:41 PM IST | With that, Australia leads the series 1-0 and it is certain that the conditions are gonna go for a trial as per the laws of the game. We shall meet on the boxing day after Christmas for the next Test. Until then, keep following all the other actions happening across our network.

A gentle adios to each and every one tuning in. This is Arijit Kundu, signing off alongside co-commentators Ayan Chatterjee and Probuddha Bhattacharjee. Shoutout to Zeeshan Naiyer, the scorer/analyst of this game. Stay safe, Tata and goodbye.

Pat Cummins (Australia Captain): "Yes, great couple of days and a great way to start the series. Yes, it was nervy and the length was not right for me. But all the bowlers were relentless and I am proud of them. Look, you are asking the wrong person the question. We could have batted better, but Head was amazing with the bat. Starc is special and congratulations to him for his achievement. He is an integral member of our team and is good to get the result on our side. Yes, a few days off extra three days. Enjoy Christmas and look forward to Boxing Day which is huge at the MCG. Looking forward to it."

Dean Elgar (South Africa Captain): "Very much, another 60 runs and we would have been there. Ah, very spicy [on the pitch]. If you're a bowler you must be licking your lips. The bowlers were making well. On the flip side, I don't see it as a fair contest actually. I feel we can't prepare better coming into this contest. Conditions were not really in favor of this game.

The point of difference was the partnership between Smith and Head. Yeah, we will sit back and see what improvements we can do. If you have two quality bowling attacks, I know people want to watch, but I think they would like to watch it for 5 days."

Travis Head (Player of the Match): "Yes, very difficult. There was always something in it for the bowlers. Glad to contribute. It was challenging to say the least. We built a good partnership with Smithy and we were fortunate to get away with a few things. It was one of the most challenging conditions I have ever batted and I rate this at the top. It was challenging. Let's see what's in store at MCG. We will wait and see. They are a quality line-up."

Time for the post-match presentation.

Marnus Labuschagne: "It felt a little bit like the shield game. One of the Shield Games ended this way. Travis Head was really good in the first innings and he was the difference. Yeah, you don't have two sides with that quality bowling.

We've has these sort of games in the Shield, 6 catches dropped in the slip and Michael Neser taking plenty of wickets. No, this is not what we want. We love the pace in the wicket, and we love the bounce but for a game of Test cricket, finishing in 2 days is not ideal.

We gotta think of some Travis Head mentality I guess. I think there were about 4.5 - 5 millimeters of grass in the wicket. The wicket felt hard but when you walk out on it with your spikes on it, it feels like a natural Day-1 wicket with moisture on.

Look, everyone wants the contest in Test cricket. Test cricket is not just an endurance battle, it brings the match hub so close together. I thought Travis Head and Steve Smith batted extremely well in the two innings."

Mitchell Starc: "Not sure whether we had a 2-day Test before. Very interesting. Pretty cool to get to 300 Test wickets. Will reflect on that later and nice to get the win. Good to get the win and the wicket like that was great. Fuller-length ball. I guess so. I prioritize cricket and then having some time with family also helps. The last two years have been amazing for me and hope to continue that. I mean bowlers are doing well. Josh is injured and Boland is doing well. It's just about complimenting each other well. Happy we got the win. I can imagine. Two best bowling line-ups against each other and we can expect this going forward. It's a bit of both as there are two quality sides and wickets will fall. Travis Head's innings were the difference. He is my Player of the Match for me."

12:18 PM IST | Arijit Kundu: Demons at Gabbatoir? This will be the debate for the next few days in the cricketing fraternity. But what won't be a debate is that Australia have sealed the first Test by a margin of 6 wickets. Australia will march into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG with an extended gap of 8 days. After approx 90+ years, at the shore of Australia, a Test match ended on Day 2.

The day started with Cameron Green and Travis Head at either end of the turf and the South African bowlers hurried them as the game progressed. The home side ticked the scorecard around for a while but Marco Jansen opened the wickets column for the day after removing Cameron Green. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi joined hands with him and Travis Head, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon,etc fell. Alex Carey was the last stone unturned on 22.

Arriving for the third innings of the match, South Africa lost two of their wickets in the first session. They were 3-2 at the end of the initial session with Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen gone.

Temba Bavuma and Sarel Erwee walked out to bat in the second session and the latter was taken aback by Pat Cummins.

Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo glued 42 runs together and shepherded around for quite a while. They were safely negotiating the pacers and therefore Nathan Lyon was introduced and the job was done after he trapped the white ball skipper of South Africa leg before wicket.

Scott Boland followed up with two wickets in an over, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen for silver ducks.

Starc and Cummins bowled in tandem from the Vulture street end and the Stanley Street end and removed the tail in a haste until the last wicket. Zondo started playing an aggressive brand of cricket and notched up 36 runs to his name. Ngidi played some lavish shots and glued 30 runs partnership for the last wicket to end the tally at 99.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers with a fifer to his name. Mitch Starc and Scott Boland bagged two each with Nathan Lyon the solitary wicket of Bavuma.

The target for the home side was 34 runs and they lost 4 wickets while trying to chase it down. It was a fiery Kagiso Rabada versus the whole Australian line-up. Anrich Nortje helped Rabada in frightening the Aussie batters with his pace and bounce. Usman Khawaja frayed one to Keshav Maharaj at gully and was the first one to go dismissed. With 19 runs coming in extras, Australia managed to chase it down seeing Marnus Labuschagne strangled at 5* and Cameron Green yet to open his account.

Stay tuned for the post-match presentations.

7.6 A Nortje to C Green

4wd Short and goes past - beats the skull of Green, and beats the hopping keeper to flow towards the fences. This one went towards the long stop region and a plethora of runs came in this format today. Australia wins it with 6 wickets in hand but the South African bowlers gave some real valiant fight.

7.5 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

1 Back of a length delivery around the off stump and Marnus does a tip and run towards short of covers.

Just 5 runs are required for the win here for Australia.

7.4 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

0 Was there any hand at the rebounding ball? Doesn't seem so!! Full and at the woods and Marnus plays it straight back at the wickets of the non-striker's end. Anrich looked to reach for some hand but didn't eventually.

7.3 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

0 142.3 KPH!! Short of a length outside the off stump and Marnus shoulder arms on this hurrying delivery.

7.2 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

0 Good length delivery at the middle and off and Marnus blocks it out to the fielder at short mid wicket.

7.1 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

0 147.4 KPH!! Rocket pace on this one and beats the outside edge as Marnus looks to play inside the line.

7.1 A Nortje to M Labuschagne

4wd Short and goes over the skull of Marnus Labuschagne this time. It will be called a wide but the cork floes over the wicketkeeper and meets the boundary ropes in the form of byes this time.

OVER 7

Australia

24/4

Cameron Green

0(2)

Marnus Labuschagne

4(11)

Kagiso Rabada

4-13(4.0)

6.6 K Rabada to C Green

0 137.2 KPH!! Back of a length delivery at the top of the poles and Green taps it out this time.

6.5 K Rabada to C Green

0 Back of a length delivery around the fourth stump line, Green taps it down in front of point.