Boland leaves Proteas reeling on rain-ruined first day

Scott Boland made an emphatic return to cricket after a seven-month lay-off, capturing the scalps of South Africa's two best batters from their previous outing on a rain-ruined opening day of the second Test in Gqeberha.

Only two brief stanzas of play, lasting 33 and 43 balls respectively, were possible on Sunday. But the second allowed enough time for the recalled Boland's latest act of brilliance that has left the Proteas reeling at 2-20.

Boland brought a damp St George's Park deck to life when he dismissed Aiden Markram (11) and David Bedingham (golden duck) - the first Test's two highest run scorers outside Matthew Renshaw - in the space of two balls.

It came after selectors dumped Nathan Lyon in favour of an all-seam attack that saw Boland brought back to play his first competitive red-ball match since March's Sheffield Shield final.

There were zero signs of rust. While Temba Bavuma (4no) survived Boland's hat-trick ball, he looked equally unconvincing as his predecessors during the Victorian's red-hot spell in the ideal seam-bowling conditions that Pat Cummins gleefully inserted his opponents into.

Debutant Marques Ackerman (5no) fought bravely to survive 32 balls in his first ever innings opening the batting in first-class cricket.

The result of the Lyon versus Boland selection contest was confirmed around 15 minutes before the toss when the dejected spinner walked over the outfield wearing sandshoes to shake the paceman's hand.

Even after the beginning of play was delayed by two hours, Boland did not get the ball in his hands for another 80 minutes following the midday start by virtue of a brief early-afternoon squall.

When he did, it was carnage.

Starc and Hazlewood's early output did little to suggest significant assistance was on offer, but the state of play changed direction more suddenly than a fresh Algoa Bay breeze when Boland replaced Starc.

Markram, having twice cover-driven full Starc balls that did not deviate, was done by a similar-length Boland ball that nipped towards him, catching his inside-edge before flattening his middle stump.

His replacement Bedingham understandably anticipated more inwards movement, pushing hard at his first ball. Boland's next trick was the one that holds its line, the right-hander's outside-edge kissing the ball on the way through to the keeper.

Bavuma looked similarly at sea. For the hat-trick ball, Boland once again found the inside portion of a South African's bat – thankfully for the hosts' skipper, the ball rebounded safely off his pad – before he got off the mark with another miscue off Boland, an edge through the slips for four.

Australia were denied their chance to press home the advantage when clouds converged again and the rain did not let up through the rest of the afternoon. Play was called not long at 4.15pm local time.

Australia XI: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood

 

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa squad for second Test: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster