Durban: David Warner and Steve Smith hit half-centuries but Australia were unable to dominate South Africa’s bowling attack on the first day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Australia, who won the toss and batted on an easy-paced pitch, were 225/5 when bad light ended play four overs before the second new ball was due. With no assistance for the bowlers from a slow surface, South Africa bowled with discipline to keep the batsmen in check.
Apart from a bright third-wicket partnership of 56 off 92 balls between Warner (51) and Smith (56), it was largely attritional cricket between the second and third-ranked teams in Test cricket.
Vernon Philander bowled with excellent control to take 2/36, while left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took 2/69. It was an indication of the slowness of the pitch that Maharaj bowled 24 of the 76 overs sent down in the day. Smith made his fifth consecutive score of 50 or more as he continued the form he showed in the Ashes series against England in which he scored 687 runs at an average of 137.40.
The Australian captain gave a half-chance on 47 when AB De Villiers at second slip could not hold a sharp, low catch to his left off Philander.
Score card
