Australia vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 2 Stats: Australia's biggest collapse, David Warner's unique first
David Warner missed out on a century as Australia collapsed following his departure and ended with a paltry lead of just two. South Africa lost Hashim Amla early once again but ended day two with a lead of 102 and in command of the first Test against Australia at Perth.
Having begun the day on 105/0, Australia were looking for a big first innings lead. And things were going according to plan as Shaun Marsh brought up his fifty and Warner was closing in on his 17th Test century. Disaster struck as Dale Steyn dismissed Warner for 97 but then what followed was even worse.
From 158/0, Australia were bowled out for 244 even though Steyn injured himself and didn’t bowl soon after dismissing the Australian opener. Vernon Philander was the pick of the bowlers and he was ably supported by Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, who were both playing their first Test in Australia.
After conceding a two-run lead, South Africa began positively but Stephen Cook got out early and Hashim Amla followed him soon after. But Dean Elgar and JP Duminy saw the Proteas through till the end of the day at 104/2.
Here are some interesting numbers from the second day’s play:
1 – Only one team has had a worse collapse after an opening partnership of at least 150. Zimbabwe put on 153 for the opening wicket before being bowled out for 236 against Sri Lanka at Galle 2002. Australia were 158/0 before being dismissed for 244.
2 – Australia’s lead of 2 runs is the second-smallest that they have taken when batting second. The only time they took a smaller lead was against England in 2003 when they took a 1 run lead at Sydney.
3 – Hashim Amla’s tally of just one run in this Test match is the lowest he has scored in a Test since 2006. This was only the third time that he had registered just a run in a Test match. Both previous instances came at Durban, first was against England in 2004 and against India in 2004.
4 – Vernon Philander finished with figures of 4/56 which is his best bowling figures in Australia. In his last tour he only took four wickets across two matches.
5 – David Warner had scored centuries in five consecutive innings in the first of the Australian home season before this innings. His streak was ended at five as he was dismissed on 97 in the first innings at Perth.
16 – After 16 Test centuries, David Warner got out in the nineties for the first time in Tests.
21 – Australian opener Justin Langer, who scored 21 Test centuries before getting out in the 90s, is the only player with more Test 100s before being dismissed in the 90s than David Warner who got out in 90s after 16 centuries.
86 – After an opening partnership of 158, Australia lost their ten wickets for just 86 runs, which is their biggest collapse in their Test history after putting up at least 100 for the opening partnership.
87.2 – David Warner’s average in the first Test of the Australian home season is 87.2. He has five centuries and two half-centuries in 11 innings.
402 – After scoring 402 runs, Adam Voges was finally dismissed at a home Test. He had scores of 269*, 106* and 27 in between his last two dismissals at home.
1999 – The last time Australia registered four ducks at home was against Pakistan at Perth in 1999. But they went on to win the match by an innings and 20 runs.