Mitchell Starc took 6/72 as South Africa were dismissed for 329 in Cape Town on 27 October, the ICC reported that day. Australia chose to field, but South Africa's openers built a strong stand before Starc's late spell.
Starc turns a strong South African start
The ICC's 27 October report records a 158-run opening stand from Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram. Ackerman fell short of a maiden Test hundred when Alex Carey stumped him off Nathan Lyon. Markram later departed after Starc caught him from Josh Hazlewood's bowling, while Lyon also dismissed captain Temba Bavuma.
Australia changed to shorter bowling after the openers had built their stand, Cricket Australia's on-site report says. Starc then removed David Bedingham and Wiaan Mulder in the same over. Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen rebuilt South Africa's innings before the second new ball brought Starc back into the centre of the match.
The ICC's 27 October report has South Africa at 327/6 before it was dismissed for 329. SportsRivo's calculation from those ICC figures is 329 minus 327 = 2 runs for the last four wickets. Cricket Australia's account says Starc took all four of those wickets in six balls, ending a collapse that had followed a substantial opening stand.
Starc described the adjustment as a problem-solving exercise. The Australian left-armer Mitchell Starc told the ICC: “A lot of us have been around long enough to try and problem solve while we're going.” The same account says he found a better method with the second new ball after Australia's difficult start.
A decider after split opening Tests
Australia won the first Test in Durban before South Africa answered with an innings victory in Gqeberha, according to Cricket Australia's match report. The teams entered Cape Town level in the series, and the ICC identifies the decider as a World Test Championship contest.
What the opening day changes
- South Africa's first innings ended at 329, according to the ICC's 27 October report; Australia now have that total as a benchmark for their reply.
- Starc's late wickets denied the hosts more runs after a strong start, while the series remains level after the teams split the opening Tests.
- Ackerman missed a maiden Test hundred, but his opening partnership gave South Africa a substantial start after Australia chose to field.
Cape Town Test continues
Cricket Australia's 27 October report lists the Cape Town Test through 31 October. With South Africa all out, Australia's batting reply is the next phase of the match.
Source: ICC opening-day report