Renshaw takes a stunner with ‘golden hand’ after frustrating day
Matt Renshaw has starred for Australia again, taking a stunning one-handed catch to put his side on top at St George’s Park on day two of the second Test between Australia and South Africa.
Late on a rain-impacted day, Renshaw dived to his right and sent Ryan Rickelton packing for 31, gifting Scott Boland his fourth wicket.
Matt Renshaw’s one-handed screamer. Fox Cricket
“What a catch from Matt Renshaw, the golden hand from the first Test takes the best catch of his Test career. Rickelton can’t believe it,” caller Mark Howard said on SuperSport.
South Africa finished the day 5-97 with Temba Bavuma finishing 41 not out after Boland dismissed Marques Ackerman (6) and Rickelton while Mitchell Starc removed Matthew Breetzke (4).
Wiaan Mulder finished 2 not out.
The elements caused frustration again in Gqeberha throughout the majority of the day as ground staff battled a wet outfield.
Heavy rain in the city overnight meant there was no chance of play early on day one but as the morning progressed the sun started to appear.
With the sun out, the covers were taken off the pitch but play continued to be halted by the outfield’s condition.
At one stage, umpires Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney were spotted in conversation with grounds staff, as arms moved about assertively.
“It’s a bit animated,” Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket.
Moises Henriques explained why that might be the case.
“When they’re getting animated like that it’s usually because the umpires want to get on the field, players want to get on the field, and the groundsmen don’t think the field is ready,” he said.
Multiple inspections were taken at the ground as the delay in play continued into the afternoon.
Discussions at St George’s Park. Fox Cricket
On day one, only 12.2 overs were bowled due to rain with South Africa making it to 2-20 after Australia elected to field first.
Pat Cummins chose to bowl due to the green pitch in front of him with Steve Smith telling Fox Cricket the pitch was “damp” before revealing his surprise the pitch hadn’t been covered with hessian, like it is in other countries.
“I just actually spoke to the groundsman and said ‘do you not use the hessian?’” he said.
“He said, ‘I do for morning games in one-day cricket, but I actually like to see a bit of moisture in the morning’. I was taken aback by that, I don’t think I’ve seen that before.”
Eventually on day two play returned at 3.45pm local time, with Josh Hazlewood not taking to the field due to illness.
The wicket of Rickelton late in the day would have come as welcome relief for Marnus Labuschagne who dropped the left-hander at leg slip when he was on 26.
