UNLUCKY: Aiden Markram had his middle stump removed off an inside edge

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AUSTRALIA’S Scott Boland took two wickets in two balls on a severely rain-shortened first day of the second Test against the Proteas at St George’s Park yesterday.

South Africa, sent in to bat, were 20/2 when play was called off after two short periods of play during which only 12.2 overs were bowled.

But it was enough for Boland to strike two groot blows. He dismissed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham – the Proteas’ most successful batters in their defeat in the first Test at Kingsmead.

Coming on as first change, Boland bowled Markram for 11 with his 10th delivery, a ball which nipped in off the pitch to crash into Markram’s middle stump off an inside edge. Then he produced a ball which seamed away to have Bedingham caught behind first ball.

Boland replaced off-spinner Nathan Lyon as Australia decided to field an all-seam attack on a green-tinged pitch in heavily overcast conditions.

Rain started falling 10 minutes after the toss and delayed the start by two hours. Markram hit two boundaries off Mitchell Starc before play was halted with the Proteas on 11/0 after 5.3 overs.

YSTER: Scott Boland

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Boland was brought into the attack after the manne returned in the afternoon and immediately struck a challenging length.

New cap Marques Ackerman was unbeaten on five and captain Temba Bavuma was on four when rain brought what proved to be the final stoppage of the day.

Boland for Lyon was the only change from the Australian team that won the first Test by 214 runs.

The Proteas made three changes, with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada returning after recovering from a hamstring injury. He replaced left-arm spin bowler Keshav Maharaj.

Ackerman and fellow batter Matthew Breetzke replaced Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne with Ryan Rickelton taking over from Verreynne as wicket-keeper.