Australia took a firm grip on the first Sunfoil Test match at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday as the Standard Bank Proteas struggled first to avoid the follow on target and then get anywhere close to the visitors’ first innings total on the second day.

AB de Villiers stood man alone as none of the other specialist batsmen stayed long enough to share a substantial partnership with him. The major damage was done first by the spin of Nathan Lyon and then by the ability of Mitchell Starc to reverse swing the old ball effectively.

Proteas Test captain, Faf du Plessis, returns to lead the squad for the first Sunfoil Test match against Australia starting at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday. The captain has recovered from the finger injury that side-lined him for the limited-overs series against India.

His return is a welcome boost to the injury-free list, with AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock also making full recoveries ahead of the match. Temba Bavuma has not recovered satisfactorily from the hand fracture, and is not available for selection for the match.

A maiden 50 by Heinrich Klaasen and an excellent finishing job by JP Duminy paved the way for the Standard Bank Proteas to level their T20 International Series 1-1 against India after a six-wicket win at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday night.

Chasing a tough 189 for victory, the hosts reached their target with eight deliveries to spare and in the process ensured that Saturday’s final match of the tour will decide the outcome of the three-match contest.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar put the finishes touches to what has been an outstanding tour for the lower-order all-rounder as he claimed his first five-wicket haul to round off India’s 28-run victory over South Africa at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

India proved to be far too ring-wise for the inexperienced South African line-up to go 1-0 up in the three-match KFC T20 International Series which forms part of the celebration of the centenary anniversary of the founding Father of the Country, Nelson Mandela.

Proteas T20 captain, JP Duminy, says the squad will start the T20 International Series against India on a clean sheet after the disappointing One-Day International (ODI) series loss on Friday. The injection of some new faces and fresh energy will be a welcome boost, along with a change of format and mindset.

Duminy believes it will be important for the squad to move on from the ODI ‘baggage’ and to target the series with renewed perspective and motivation. The players held a practice session at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday, and given the short turnaround of formats, will have to be positive and on the front foot for the first match at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

An impressive, all-round performance by the Momentum Proteas saw them clinch victory by seven-wickets over India in the third and last Women’s One-Day International (ODI) at Senwes Park on Saturday. The series ended with India winning 2-1, but the hosts will be pleased to have opened their ICC Women’s Championship account with two points.

A four-wicket haul by Shabnim Ismail and respective, unbeaten scores of 90 and 41 by Mignon du Preez and captain Dane van Niekerk, as well as a half-century by Laura Wolvaardt (59 off 88 balls) saw the home side finally play to the potential they have been discussing.

South Africa took full advantage of two weather interruptions to beat India by 5 wickets on the DLS method at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of sharing the Momentum ODI series. India now lead the series 3-1 with the remaining matches to be played at St.George’s Park on Tuesday and at SuperSport Park on Friday.

In the process the packed Wanderers crowd saluted two new heroes in Heinrich Klaasen and Andile Phehlukwayo who have played a combined total of just 25 ODIs. The pair secured the victory after the Proteas were set a revised target of 202 in 28.4 overs with Klaasen making an unbeaten 43 off 27 balls (5 fours and a six) and Phehlukwayo an almost unbelievable 23 off 5 balls (a four, 3 sixes and a single).