Key occasions
While we look ahead to the sunshine to enhance, the rain radar suggests one other bathe will not be far-off.
What a day. There’s a bloke enjoying who failed a Covid check this morning. There’s a fella batting who was out caught within the slips. And we’ve spent a lot of the previous two hours not enjoying regardless of solely a short flurry of rain passing via. I’m grateful Twitter’s down.
So the gamers trudged out into the center, the umpires rested their gentle meters on the stumps, and earlier than a ball was bowled within the post-tea session everybody buggered off once more.
Bad gentle stops play
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Cricket, go dwelling, you’re drunk.
The turnaround on the SCG has been impressively fast. The gamers are already on the boundary edge able to resume. There’s no assure additional rain or unhealthy gentle received’t intervene however for now, we’re good to go.
The excellent news: Play will restart at 3.45pm.
The unhealthy information (for me): Play will proceed till 7pm – so we’ll have a 3 hour 15 minute session of play.
The covers are being eliminated and the mop-up is underway.
And as I sort the umpires are making their method into the center, the groundstaff are laborious at work, and the rain has just about stopped. After a couple of minutes to clear up we ought to be again in motion very quickly.
The very worst of the rain in NSW is drenching the Central Coast, north of Sydney. And there’s an opportunity that second band of rain I discussed earlier may additionally skirt across the SCG to the north, so as soon as this present storm passes via we would get again on sooner reasonably than later.
Rain stops play
As anticipated, it’s now raining over the SCG. The first band of storms has virtually handed via, however there’s a second following behind.
Tea: Australia 138-1
Tea has been taken. It formally started at 2.41.
Let’s get Channel Seven’s cameras on this whereas there’s no motion! Very healthful behind the scenes on the SCG.
Meanwhile, the darts earlier immediately was sensational. No stopping for unhealthy gentle at Ally Pally.
TURN THE FRIGGEN LIGHTS ON AND GET ON WITH IT.
The previous hour or so has been very cricket, from the third-umpire’s pointless intervention to now watching a dry empty subject, ready for the pre-arranged tea interval to happen, after which we’ll then watch rain fall.
With the sunshine failing to enhance we’re more likely to have an early tea. The rain has reached Homebush in Sydney’s city west.
It hasn’t began raining but, however now that we’re off I’d be shocked if we noticed any extra play earlier than tea. Whether we see any play afterwards will rely how a lot rain lands on the SCG when that storm hits, and the way lengthy the burst hangs round for.
Bad gentle stops play
And similar to that, my presence causes play to be halted for unhealthy gentle. The floodlights are in full impact, however it is extremely gloomy out within the center.
The darkness is the consequence of large storm clouds which are barrelling in from the west. They will doubtless shed their load over the SCG shortly. Who is aware of how far more motion we’ll see immediately.
Jonathan Howcroft
Thanks Geoff.
Before we go any additional, that overturned catch choice stinks. I’m not usually one to get labored up by this stuff however that was an terrible end result, the consequence of a dreadful course of.
In actual time that was out. For the whole thing of Test cricket that was out. The on-field umpire gave it out. But for no matter cause the third umpire (the usually very good Richard Kettleborough) appeared fixated on proving it was not out, selectively utilizing one body within the midst of all the opposite proof to make a name he didn’t have to make.
Not solely that, but it surely took an age to achieve the choice. And then the yelp he made when he discovered the supposedly decisive body was a nasty sound for the game.
What an pointless mess. Why can’t we simply get out of the way in which and let sports activities regulate themselves?
Geoff Lemon
forty third over: Australia 138-1 (Khawaja 51, Labuschagne 73) Nortje comes again, however even for him there’s not a lot bounce from the floor. A number of singles, not a lot motion. Time for drinks. And time for me to make method for JP Howcroft.
forty second over: Australia 135-1 (Khawaja 50, Labuschagne 71) Jansen runs into bowl once more, and it’s nonetheless Labuschagne wanting again at him, blocking, leaving, glancing.
Half century! Khawaja 50 from 114 balls
forty first over: Australia 134-1 (Khawaja 50, Labuschagne 70) While South African blood continues to boil, Khawaja performs a fragile reduce behind level for a boundary and his fifty. Rabada 0 for 45 off 12.
fortieth over: Australia 130-1 (Khawaja 46, Labuschagne 70) Close-up replays and I believe which you could say that his fingers have been pushed into the bottom by the ball. So the ball appears low on the side-on shot, for that cause. Technically if a blade of grass touches the ball you possibly can rule it not out, however everyone knows that cricket has by no means been umpired that method. Anyway, that’s the decision.
Wicket overturned!
Oh, this one goes to get the remedy. Angled throughout from Jansen, Labuschagne pushes at it, and edges it low to Harmer at slip. The umpires refer the low catch. The crowd don’t like one replay from the facet, the place it appears just like the ball is low sufficient to be touching the bottom between the fingers. And ultimately, third umpire Richard Kettleborough agrees.
But from entrance on you possibly can see that his fingers are down beneath the ball, I might say. That’s a unsuitable choice. And it’s inconsistent with one earlier in the summertime, when Australia whereas fielding acquired the good thing about a really related scenario.
thirty ninth over: Australia 128-1 (Khawaja 45, Labuschagne 70) Rabada hits Labuschagne! Nasty. Just after the batter has completely creamed a canopy drive for 4, Rabada is sick of this and bowls a brute. Short however quick and on line, leaping on the collarbone, and Labuschagne leans again out of the way in which however has the ball skim his chest and the grille of his helmet. Appeal for a catch behind not there was no glove concerned.
thirty eighth over: Australia 124-1 (Khawaja 45, Labuschagne 66) Jansen again on, instantly squaring up Khawaja however once more the sting goes to floor and between slip and gully for 4. Must have been half a dozen of these immediately. Elgar brings in a second slip, so Khawaja knocks a run into the brand new hole at midwicket.
thirty seventh over: Australia 118-1 (Khawaja 40, Labuschagne 65) Get me into the motion! So says Khawaja, striding ahead right into a lavish cowl drive to Rabada. It will get saved with a slide within the deep, three runs. Shades of his 140 in Wellington in 2016 there. Pretty positive he made 100 of these in drives. 100 partnership up too. Labuchagne continues being fed, one other one exterior leg stump for him to look for 4.
thirty sixth over: Australia 111-1 (Khawaja 37, Labuschagne 61) I don’t perceive this. Maharaj has been poor. Harmer has regarded far more harmful. Yet with Rabada again on, Maharaj continues reasonably than bringing Harmer round to the opposite finish. Maharaj promptly will get swept for 4 by Labuschagne, not as soon as however twice.
Half century! Labuschagne 53 from 102 balls
thirty fifth over: Australia 102-1 (Khawaja 36, Labuschagne 53) A bowling change, tempo returns with Rabada. And virtually will get a consequence instantly: prime edge as Labuschagne hooks but it surely goes advantageous of the fielder within the deep for 4. That takes him to 49, then a a lot better pull shot will get him 4 extra to boost his fifty.
thirty fourth over: Australia 94-1 (Khawaja 36, Labuschagne 45) Poor bowling from Maharaj. Too full once more and out of doors the leg stump into the bargin. That’s really easy for Labuschagne to brush away for 4. Picks up a single to observe, he’s cruising now.
thirty third over: Australia 89-1 (Khawaja 36, Labuschagne 40) A milestone of 4000 profession runs for Khawaja as he drives Harmer via cowl for 4. Then reaches for the subsequent couple and stabs at them suspiciously. A little bit of drizzle is making the grass moist and dampening the ball, which is unhealthy for spin. Grey clouds everywhere in Sydney. A pair extra singles observe.
thirty second over: Australia 83-1 (Khawaja 31, Labuschagne 39) Better traces from Maharaj when Labuschagne comes again on strike, bringing the stumps into play. But he overpitches ultimately, bringing the on drive into play. Three runs with Bavuma chasing. Khawaja mimics the Labuschagne sweep, mirror picture with a left-hander batting and left-armer bowling, solely one run to the outfielder.
thirty first over: Australia 78-1 (Khawaja 29, Labuschagne 36) Too brief from Harmer, his first unhealthy ball, and Khawaja goes proper again to tug. There’s a boundary rider at deep sq. although. One run. Bowls properly to the right-hander too, numerous flight, Labuschagne reaching ahead, wanting an opportunity to squeeze one out by way of the within edge and pad. Finally Labuschagne takes a danger, reaching nicely exterior off stump to achieve the ball the place it pitches and sweep laborious throughout the road to deep midwicket. That’s the shot he practised within the nets for weeks forward of the Pakistan and Sri Lanka excursions.
thirtieth over: Australia 73-1 (Khawaja 28, Labuschagne 32) Maharaj carries on on the different finish, double spin in the meanwhile. A few singles solely.
twenty ninth over: Australia 71-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 31) Gets a wicket given second ball! But overturned. Khawaja tries a reverse sweep. Misses it, hit on the again thigh. But he opinions instantly and replays present a kiss of the glove. Lucky. I’m wondering if it truly hit him simply exterior the off stump, too? Either that or the angle of Harmer from across the wicket could have had it lacking leg. Anyway, you miss a sweep and umpires get . Khawaja nonetheless there, but it surely appears like Harmer will get him ultimately. Drives a few runs from the final ball of the over.
We’re again after the break, Simon Harmer with the ball.
Lunch – Australia 68-1
Not many runs within the session however 9 wickets in hand, a great place for Australia. For South Africa, the second session ought to be all Harmer with some Maharaj and a sprinkling of Nortje, by the appears of the primary. Back with you shortly.
twenty eighth over: Australia 68-1 (Khawaja 25, Labuschagne 30) Last ball of the session, and Labuschagne soaks up most of it earlier than leaving Khawaja one ball to face. Could have been fateful, as he walks throughout to the off facet to dam it away, and sees it ricochet off his pad again previous the stumps. Luck is with him, and so goes the session Australia’s method.
twenty seventh over: Australia 67-1 (Khawaja 25, Labuschagne 29) Harmer will get the sting! Khawaja nicking huge of slip. He’s had issues with good off-spin earlier than. Nearly one other edge as he performs again with a straight bat. Tension rising.
twenty sixth over: Australia 65-1 (Khawaja 23, Labuschagne 29) Maharaj mixing it up, spearing the ball via at Labuschagne, flighting it to Khawaja. Labuschagne picks up three runs on the reduce shot to boost a 50 partnership.
twenty fifth over: Australia 61-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 26) Here goes Harmer. Essex legend, long-time Kolpak participant which means he couldn’t play each nation cricket and Test cricket, however since Brexit he can do each once more. If you need to know extra about that, go down some on-line rabbit holes. And he begins superbly! Off-spinner, he’s acquired a left-hander in his sights, turning the ball away from Khawaja’s edge and beating it. Lots of loop in his supply. Getting Khawaja enjoying again when he’s straight on the stumps.
twenty fourth over: Australia 61-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 26) Maharaj getting some flip in his third over. Already buy on day one. Labuschagne is watchful in opposition to it. Harmer is warming up as nicely.
twenty third over: Australia 60-1 (Khawaja 21, Labuschagne 26) Impulsive from Labuschagne but it surely works. Short ball once more, exterior off this time, and he reaches for it with a horizontal bat, snicking a backside edge down into the bottom between slip and gully. Rabada annoyed however he retains bowling that size.
twenty second over: Australia 56-1 (Khawaja 21, Labuschagne 22) A few singles from Maharaj’s over, as he lands them extra constantly after warming up.
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