Kagiso Rabada took five wickets for 51 runs to help dismiss Australia for just 212 while fellow opening bowler Marco Jansen claimed 3-49 as South Africa bowled well on the first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in London.
But Mitchell Starc (7-3-10-2) struck early in South Africa’s reply and with Josh Hazlewood (1-10) and captain Pat Cummins (1-14) also claiming wickets the underdog Proteas stumbled to 43-4 by the close of a dramatic day.
“I think we’re in a good spot. We’ve probably had a few missed opportunities with the bat to try and get a bigger total, but I think the wicket’s offered something all day,” said Australia’s Steve Smith.
South Africa trail Australia by 169 runs after a day on which 14 wickets fell and captain Temba Bavuma (3) and David Bedingham (8) will resume on Thursday with a daunting task ahead.
“We feel there is a lot of opportunity still left in the contest,” Rabada said.
A see-saw contest started with South Africa’s decision to put Australia in to bat in a calculated gamble on a good pitch but with cloudy conditions that Bavuma sought to capitalise on.