With Travis Head’s counterattacking 78* leading a 15-wicket first day that belonged to the pacers on the green top of the Gabba, Australia asserted dominance. In the opening match of the three-match series, South Africa was given the opportunity to bat first.
Under cloudy skies, they were dismissed for 152 in two sessions, losing the spirited 98-run fifth-wicket stand led by half-centurion Kyle Verreynne (64), which was sandwiched between two fatal 4 for 27 and 6 for 27 collapses on either side.
Australia’s top order also faltered on a pitch that still had some bite, falling to 27 for 3, before being supported by a quick century partnership between Head and Steve Smith. The hosts were only behind seven runs at the time of stumps, but they felt that they had lost two more wickets too late in the day.
Australia’s start was comparable to South Africa’s wobble at the top of the order. Anrich Nortje struck with his second ball, Kagiso Rabada off his first, and Marco Jansen off his second to reduce the hosts to a little improved 27/3.
A scorching short ball from Rabada first up and some outstanding one-handed catches from Khaya Zondo at short leg contributed to David Warner’s ongoing slump. Marnus Labuschagne picked up a few boundaries in the last over, but his struggle was short-lived. The in-form hitter carelessly jabbed at a ball on the fourth stump line, setting Elgar up for a straightforward catch at second slip.
After going through a trying period, Nortje made progress eight minutes before lunch. He breached Smith’s defences with a nip-backer that struck the middle stump after passing through the bat-pad gap. The experience of Scott Boland as the night watchman lasted four balls.
As Australia dropped to 145/5, he sliced at the first ball, which was wide and outside off, and missed. He then managed to defy a vicious 148kmph delivery, before finally edging to the keeper at the stroke of stumps.
Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon selected three-fers earlier in the day to limit South Africa in their opening innings. The Australian pacers did just enough to entice the South African batsmen despite a temporary struggle to nail their lines and length.
Starc got things going, and it only took him 13 balls to have an effect when Elgar gloved an edge to the keeper while being choked down the leg side. Rassie van der Dussen was forced to feather another catch to Alex Carey behind the stumps by captain Pat Cummins after five more overs.
Boland, who entered the fray soon before the hour mark, scored twice in his first over. Prior to the drinks break, the pacer had Khaya Zondo trapped plumb LBW for a second-ball duck after tempting Sarel Erwee with a full delivery outside off to force a thick edge that led to a low catch at gully.