Scott Boland struck twice in two balls as South Africa stuttered to 20-2 from 12.2 overs on a rain-hit first day of the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha.
Australia selected Boland in place of off-spinner Nathan Lyon and went in with a four-pronged pace attack. Boland bowled Aiden Markram (11) off an inside edge in the ninth over, then removed David Bedingham (0) with his next delivery, getting a nick.
South Africa trail 1-0 in the three-match series after a 214-run defeat in the opening Test in Durban. They were 12-2 at that stage after being put into bat, but reached the premature stumps without further losses as debutant Marques Ackerman (5 not out off 32 balls) and captain Temba Bavuma (4 not out off 13) battled.
Rain disrupts day one at St George’s Park
Rain delayed the start by around two hours. It returned to force an early lunch after just 5.3 overs, and another downpour led to the day being abandoned at 4.15pm local time at St George’s Park.
South Africa finished on 20-2 after 12.2 overs in their first innings. Markram made 11, Ackerman was unbeaten on 5 off 32, and Boland took figures of 2-5 from 3.2 overs.
Team changes
Boland for Lyon was Australia’s only change from the first match. The Baggy Greens left out their premier spinner in a red-ball Test in which he was fit to play for the first time since 2013.
South Africa made three changes. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and batter Tristan Stubbs were axed. Batters Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke came in, along with fit-again paceman Kagiso Rabada.
Ryan Rickelton took the wicketkeeping gloves in Verreynne’s absence and dropped down from his opening position to No 6. Ackerman came in to partner Markram at the top of the order.
Ackerman, 30, was opening in a first-class match for the first time and dug in on a seam-friendly wicket.
Day two of the second Test begins at 8am on Monday.