South Africa lost 4-11 either side of lunch on day one of the Boxing Day Test but has fought back against Australia in the second session at the MCG.
South Africa is now 5-151, with Kyle Verreynne (42) and Marco Jansen (43) at the crease.
Australia’s fifth wicket came early in the second session when a diving Marnus Labuschagne held onto a stunning catch to dismiss Khaya Zondo for five.
“That is unbelievable. He is everywhere, he is in everything,” Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
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Australia has, however, been left searching for a sixth. A chance arrived in the 46th over when Labuschagne was unable to claim a low catch at short leg when Jansen was on 22.
Just before tea, Usman Khawaja also put down a catch off Jansen to make it four dropped catches by the Australians for the day following one from Pat Cummins and one from Nathan Lyon earlier.
The pressure might’ve been starting to show on the Aussies who then wasted a review on caught behind with clear daylight between bat and ball.
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Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
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Earlier, the Test had started so well for the Proteas who almost made it an hour without loss until Scott Boland was brought on to bowl, much to the crowd’s pleasure.
And it didn’t take long for the crowd favourite to make his mark — the quick found the outside edge of Sarel Erwee in just his second over, dismissing the opener at third slip for 18.
Shaun Pollock said on Fox Cricket: “His unbelievable ability to pick up wickets in the Test arena continues.”
Boland nearly had a second in his next over when an inside edge from Elgar rolled onto the stumps, but the bails didn’t dislodge.
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South Africa looked like it would reach lunch just one wicket down and win the session, but Theunis de Bruyne threw away his wicket with a reckless pull shot to Cameron Green that opened the door.
Smith didn’t hold back in commentary, saying: “That’s a big mistake. Just as we talk about them owning the session, they don’t.
“If he’s not cross with himself, he should be … this is a very poor and tough option.
“‘What have I just done? What have I just done’.”
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And it didn’t get any better for South Africa either with captain Dean Elgar running himself out on the arm of Marnus Labuschagne less than 10 minutes before lunch.
Gilchrist said that Elgar had committed “the cardinal sin of cricket”.
Smith added: “South Africa have given Australia three gifts in this session, three gifts they didn’t need.”
The very next ball, Starc tickled the outside edge of Bavuma to make it four wickets in the session and a loss of 3-2.
Earlier, Cummins almost made an early breakthrough at the end of the fourth over when he dropped a difficult return catch off Elgar, who was on 7.
Nathan Lyon also dropped a tough diving attempt later in the session when Elgar was on 19.
Cummins opted to roll the dice after Australia blitzed South Africa within two days at the Gabba last week.
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He admitted that the MCG wicket wasn’t looking as green as the Gabba did, but said he believed the best bowling conditions would be on day one.
Asked if he went back and forth over the decision, Cummins said: “A little bit. I think here the MCG wicket gets better and better to bat on.
“It doesn’t look like a raging green seamer but see how we go.”
South Africa captain Dean Elgar said he was somewhat “surprised” by the decision, and he would have elected to bat anyway.
“Generally you want to bat first here, but I guess that’s his decision,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Australia has named an unchanged XI with Scott Boland holding onto his position over Josh Hazlewood.
The Proteas have made one change with Theunis de Bruyn replacing Rassie van der Dussen.
Day one of the Boxing Day Test has featured a number of tributes to Australian cricket icon Shane Warne, who passed away in March.
Among them was the players of both sides wearing wide-brimmed hats before ball one, when a video tribute to the cricket legend was played at the MCG.
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