Elgar ton for South Africa

Elgar stood tall amidst the ruins as South Africa lost six wickets for 46 runs in a posttea collapse. 

Elgar offered two chances and was hit twice to reach 91 not out at tea on the first day and soon completed his century. AB de Villiers made 64 in a partnership worth 128 with Elgar.  De Villiers left soon after tea and that led to the fall of two more wickets.

South Africa was 185/2 at tea after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Cummins dismissed de Villiers and Du Plessis as South Africa lost three wickets for 19 runs in 10 overs.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood began the match with a maiden each, and there had been only two scoring shots when Hazlewood had Aiden Markram caught at second slip for an 11-ball duck in the fourth over. 

But, given a pitch docile enough for off-spinner Nathan Lyon to be introduced as early as the ninth over, the bowlers struggled to challenge the batsmen for the rest of the first session even though they kept runs to a trickle.

BRIEF SCORES: South Africa (first innings) 266 for 8 (D Elgar 121 batting, AB de Villiers 64, P Cummins 4/64)