South Africa 214 for 5 (de Villiers 51*, Duminy 2*) v Australia ,Day 1

The opening day at St George's Park was less traumatic for South Africa than the four in Centurion as Dean Elgar shone on his return to the side, but loose strokes in the evening session left them vulnerable. They avoided the sort of performance that could have handed the series to Australia on a plate - and which threatening to develop during a rough first half an hour - only to slip as the light faded on an overcast day to close on 214 for 5. 

De Villiers has now scored fifty or more runs in 12 consecutive Tests for South Africa. This is the longest such consecutive sequence by a batsman in Tests. Viv Richards, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag held this record previously, having scored fifty-plus in 11 consecutive Tests. 

South Africa 1st innings

Runs

Balls

4s

6s

	GC Smith*	lbw b Harris	9		19	1	0
	D Elgar	c Harris b Lyon	83		193	9	2
	HM Amla	lbw b Johnson	0		2	0	0
	F du Plessis	c Smith b Lyon	55		126	5	1
	AB de Villiers†	not out	51		126	7	0
	Q de Kock	c sub (MC Henriques) b Smith	7		17	1	0
	JP Duminy	not out	2		15	0	0
	Extras	(b 4, lb 2, w 1)	7
	Total	(5 wickets; 83 overs)	214	(2.57 runs per over)

	Bowling	Overs		Runs	Wickets
	RJ Harris	18		36	1
	MG Johnson	15		44	1
	PM Siddle	22		61	0
	NM Lyon	23		47	2
	DA Warner	1		2	0
	SPD Smith	4		18	1