South Africa vs Australia 2018: 1st Test, day 1 - 5 things we learnt from the day
On a slow, un-South African wicket, Steven Smith and David Warner gobbled up half-centuries but couldn't quite get stuck into the hosts as Keshav Maharaj tied them down. The Proteas spinner came on to bowl as early as the eleventh over in the game and almost immediately reaped rewards. He took his first wicket post lunch, the crucial scalp of the indomitable Steven Smith and went on to add that of Shaun Marsh.
Earlier, David Warner made a typically flashy half-century while Steven Smith appeared in outstanding touch as Australia took advantage of batting first here at Durban. Vernon Philander dismissed Warner with the perfect set up and Smith's wicket later opened way for a vulnerable middle-order but Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine held their own in an unbeaten 48 run stand before bad light stopped play.
#5 David Warner's spectacular run in South Africa continues
If any Australian loves South Africa as much as his home country, it has to be David Warner. The belligerent southpaw has made half-centuries at a jaw-dropping frequency in the country - six 50+ scores in seven innings' in South Africa including three hundreds and an average of 84.85. At Durban, Warner returning from injuring appeared in ominous touch although Vernon Philander tied him down early on with some tight bowling.
Warner got going soon after Morkel and Rabada started bowling short and although he survived a close lbw call off Maharaj, Warner appeared least perturbed and knocked off another 50+ score in the Rainbow Nation. However, any hopes of converting it into a big score ended when Vernon Philander set him up wonderfully shortly after his half-century.