Australia reached 226 for 4 at tea on the second day of the third men's Test against South Africa, still 138 runs behind the hosts' first-innings total, according to The Guardian's live coverage.
Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw both passed fifty for the tourists before falling in quick succession to Marco Jansen, leaving Alex Carey and Josh Inglis to rebuild in the final session.
Why it matters
The match sits finely balanced, with The Guardian's commentary describing the contest as "delicately poised" as the day wore on. Australia's middle order had to recover from a shaky morning, while South Africa's spinners did most of the early damage. A strong finish from either side on day two could shape the outcome of a series-deciding Test.
Renshaw and Green steady Australia after spin strikes
Australia's innings had begun badly. At lunch they were 90 for 2, having lost Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to Simon Harmer, the Guardian reported. Head was bowled for 41, and Labuschagne was caught by Aiden Markram without scoring, leaving Australia 58 for 2.
Renshaw and Green then put together the stand that carried Australia back into the contest. Renshaw brought up his half-century from 99 balls, while Green reached his from 65 deliveries, per The Guardian's timeline of key events. The pair also benefited from what the Guardian described as a "huge reprieve" from the third umpire about three hours into the day's play.
The partnership ended when Renshaw was caught by Ryan Rickelton off Jansen for 74, with Australia at 184 for 3. Green followed soon after, caught by Harmer off the same bowler for 65, leaving the score at 185 for 4.
Jansen's two wickets came despite an interrupted day. The Guardian noted he was off the field for a period, with reports of an upset stomach, and that he had looked below his best earlier in the day. He returned to the outfield later in the afternoon and was given a warm reception by the crowd near the boundary.
Carey and Inglis rebuild as South Africa turn to spin
After the twin strikes, Carey and Inglis came together with both men on zero. By the 65th over their partnership had reached 41 from 82 balls, a stand the Guardian characterised as a fine rebuild.
Carey, normally an aggressive stroke-maker, was notably restrained for much of his innings. The Guardian's commentary described him as unusually patient before he began to find the boundary, including a four down the ground off Harmer and a cut past point off Gerald Coetzee. He also attempted his trademark reverse sweep, though he missed one attempt and picked up two runs with another.
Inglis survived a testing bouncer from Coetzee that caught the splice of his bat and looped into empty space where a short leg might have stood. He also nearly ran out his partner: Carey was sent back after setting off for a single, and a throw at the non-striker's end narrowly missed with Carey well short of his ground.
South Africa leaned heavily on spin. Harmer bowled a long spell, at one stage sending down five consecutive dot balls to Carey with a catching man in the covers and mid-on brought up to block the single. Wiaan Mulder was introduced with the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps, a move the Guardian's commentator read as South Africa trying to keep the scoring quiet until the pace bowlers were ready to return.
The Guardian's commentary suggested the balance of advantage was genuinely unclear, noting that another substantial partnership could swing the game either way, and questioning whether South Africa could dismiss Australia's lower order as quickly as Mitchell Starc had done on the opening evening.
The tourists brought up their 200 in the 58th over through a clip off the pads from Inglis.
What to watch
The final session of day two will decide whether Australia erase the remaining deficit with wickets in hand or South Africa's spinners prise out the lower order. The Guardian's coverage continues with ball-by-ball updates.
