Opener Usman Khawaja smashed his fifth Test hundred to give Australia a lead of 48 in the first innings of Adelaide Test, as the hosts ended Day 2 at 307/6.
Resuming their innings at 14/0, Australia lost debutant Matt Renshaw early on as he nicked one to Dean Elger in the slip cordon. The catch looked a bit tricky but Renshaw was given out eventually. David Warner then took less time to walk back as a similar dismissal as that of Renshaw sent him packing for just 11. Kyle Abbott took both wickets.
Captain Steven Smith then joined forces with Usman Khawaja. The partnership for the third wicket started to build as the pair started knocking some balls past the boundary line. At tea, Australia were 109/2.
In the second session, the skipper shed some curtains on his bad form and brought up his half century, bringing in some calmness in the Aussie dressing room. As his partner Khawaja was approaching his hundred, a confusion in the middle led to a run-out and Smith was dismissed for 54.
It wasn’t long before Usman Khawaja completed his fifth Test century and first against South Africa. Looking solid with his defense and technique, the left-handed batsman also dodged Tabraiz Shamsi, who went wicket-less on Day 2.
Peter Handscomb, one of the three debutants for Australia in this match, scored his maiden half-century. Whacking Vernon Philander for three consecutive boundaries in an over, Handscomb convinced many of his selection in the team. However, his celebration was cut short by Abbott, who dismissed him for 54.
Wickets started to tumble at the other hand as Kagiso Rabada yorked one to dismiss Nic Maddinson for a nought in his first Test.
Vernon Philander then scalped recalled batsman Matthew Wade for just four, before Mitchell Starc ensured the hosts didn’t anymore wicket till the end of the day.