Two Wicketkeepers, One 145-Run Stand: Inglis and Carey Put Australia in Front at Newlands as Jansen Hits 100 Test Wickets

Highlights

• Australia reached 330 for 4 at stumps on day two at Newlands, leading South Africa’s 329 by one run, after Josh Inglis (85 not out off 111 balls) and Alex Carey (51 not out) added an unbroken 145 for the fifth wicket
• Matt Renshaw (74) and Cameron Green (65) had earlier added 126 for the third wicket; Simon Harmer removed Travis Head (41) with his first ball of the match and Marnus Labuschagne for a duck in the same over
• Marco Jansen (2 for 37) dismissed Renshaw and Green in quick succession — Renshaw was his 100th Test wicket, making him the third-fastest South African to the milestone in balls bowled — and he was crowned the world’s No. 1-ranked Test bowler the same day
• Inglis was playing his sixth Test and first of the series, in the side for Steve Smith, who was ruled out of the decider with a stiff neck
• The series is level at 1–1; the winner of this match takes the No. 1 position in the Test world rankings, currently held by Australia

The day in one scorecard

Australia are 330 for 4 (Inglis 85*, Renshaw 74, Green 65, Carey 51*, Jansen 2-37, Harmer 2-84), leading South Africa’s 329 (Ackerman 95, Markram 78, Jansen 52, Starc 6-72, Lyon 2-71) by one run at stumps on day two (ESPNcricinfo). A rejigged Australian order showed mettle to rebuff several South African fightbacks on a relatively benign Newlands surface, with a 126-run third-wicket partnership between Green and Renshaw and the unbroken 145-run Inglis–Carey stand powering the visitors into a position of strength in the series-deciding third Test (ESPNcricinfo). It follows day one, when Starc’s six wickets dragged Australia back into a match South Africa’s openers had dominated.

Harmer’s over, and the morning that promised more

Renshaw and Travis Head launched Australia’s reply with a brisk 58-run opening partnership before offspinner Simon Harmer’s introduction in the 18th over changed the morning (ESPNcricinfo). Harmer struck twice in his first over: Head, on 41, chopped on to his stumps playing off the back foot — an all too familiar mode of dismissal for him in recent times — and Labuschagne fell for a duck, caught by Aiden Markram at slip, as Australia went to lunch at 90 for 2 (Reuters). For Labuschagne, the duck leaves his Test career hanging by a thread (ESPNcricinfo).

Renshaw and Green then dominated the middle session, scoring at nearly a boundary an over, with Green taking Kagiso Rabada for two sixes and a four in a single over during their 126-run third-wicket partnership (IOL).

Jansen’s milestone — and the stand that answered it

Marco Jansen produced a pre-tea spell to drag South Africa back into the contest, removing Renshaw for his milestone 100th Test wicket — becoming the third-fastest South African to reach the milestone in terms of balls bowled — and striking again nine balls later to remove Green (IOL). Renshaw was caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton and Green edged to Harmer at slip; Jansen’s figures were 2 for 37 (Khaleej Times/Reuters). On the same day, Jansen was crowned the world’s No. 1-ranked Test bowler (IOL). Proteas bowling coach Piet Botha said of him:

“Marco, he’s just a very, very hard worker, just absolutely focuses on, from practise to when he plays,” Proteas bowling coach Piet Botha enthused. (IOL)

Those proved to be South Africa’s final breakthroughs of the day. Inglis, in the side for the injured Steve Smith — ruled out with a stiff neck — and playing only his sixth Test, shared the unbroken 145-run stand with Carey, with the pair placing a premium on their wickets and playing percentage cricket as even the second new ball failed to provide the breakthrough (IOL). Botha graded his own attack’s day honestly: “I would grade it (the bowling performance) probably 6 out of 10. You always knew it was going to be a tough day, you know, the way the wicket’s playing” (IOL). Renshaw, who made 74, explained Australia’s approach:

“We knew that they were going to come hard through periods, and it was just about building partnerships,” opener Matt Renshaw told reporters. “It felt like a nice wicket. There’s a few balls starting to spin, a few balls that popped.” (Khaleej Times/Reuters)

What day two actually tells us

First, Australia’s transition produced its evidence. Green and Renshaw — batters who loom as key figures for a transitioning side — were significant contributors, and fringe batter Inglis issued a reminder of his talents with 85 not out from 111 balls (ESPNcricinfo). A decider won, if it is won, by the next generation rather than the old guard changes how this tour is remembered.

Second, the stakes could not be cleaner. The series is level at 1–1 after Australia won the first Test by 214 runs in Durban and South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-runs victory in Gqeberha — and the team that wins this match will occupy the number one position in the Test rankings, currently held by Australia (Reuters). South Africa now need early wickets on day three and a deficit small enough to chase the game back; every run Inglis and Carey add in the morning moves the match, and the ranking, further away.

The bottom line: South Africa won the day’s highlights — a first-ball strike, a double strike in one over, a 100th wicket and a new world No. 1 — and lost the day. Australia’s 330 for 4, built by the players who are supposed to be its future, is what a decider looks like when it starts slipping away from the hosts.