South Africa vs Australia 2018: 3rd Test, day 2, 5 things we learnt from the day
A rejuvenated Morne Morkel and a fiery Kagiso Rabada ripped open Australia on day 2 after Dean Elgar and Rabada added a half-century partnership to take the hosts past 300.
The tall, lanky seamer completed his 300th Test wicket, picked up four in the day as it seemed like all one-way traffic on day two.
Just when it seemed Australia were conceding the Test on a platter, Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine stitched together a 66 run stand with the No.10 contributing 47 of those runs.
The stand saved Australia the blushes after their top-order batsmen came a cropper against the Proteas seamer. The visitors ended the day at 245/9 with Paine once again battling with the tail.
#5 Rabada - Elgar frustrate Aussies
If Australia had hopes of bowling out South Africa early on day two, they were thwarted by a resilient Kagiso Rabada, who faced a barrage of short balls from the Aussie quicks, and centurion Dean Elgar.
The No.10 batsman unfurled a flurry of superbly timed drives amidst some top-edged hooks to stake claims for a place higher in the order.
Runs came thick and fast as the duo put on a half-century partnership much to the annoyance of Steven Smith who would have ideally wanted David Warner and Cameron Bancroft padding up five overs into day two.
It took Nathan Lyon just one ball to break the stand and he ended the innings of the fifth ball of the same over.