• Travis Head keep Australia ahead of South Africa in spite of late wickets on Day 1.

  • The Aussies have posted 145/5 in reply to the Proteas' first innings total of 152.

AUS vs SA [Twitter reactions]: Travis Head stands tall on the 15-wicket opening day in Brisbane
Travis Head holds fort on Day 1 of Gabba Test (Image Source: Twitter)

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On a green Gabba track and with a bit of a cloud cover overhead, Australian bowlers took full advantage after Pat Cummins opted to bat first on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa.

Apart from a solid 98-run partnership between half-centurion Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma, the Proteas suffered a fatal collapse of 27 for 4 and 27 for 6 on either side of the Verreynne-Bavuma stand. The tourists were eventually bundled out for 152, with Verreynne scoring the most, 64 runs.

Pacer Mitchell Starc (3/41) and off-spinner Nathan Lyon (3/14) were the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, bagging three wickets each. Similarly, Scott Boland (2/28) and Cummins (2/35) picked up a couple of scalps each.

In response, Australians tasted their own medicine, with South African pacers dropping absolute thunderbolts to make the survival of Aussie batters quite difficult. Kagiso Rabada sent the shockwaves right from the word go, dismissing opener David Warner on the very first ball for a golden duck.

Soon, Marnus Labuschagne (11) and Usman Khawaja (11) were also removed as the home team was reduced to 27/3 inside the 10 overs. Before the Proteas could add more pressure, Travis Head and Steve Smith took things away and formed a stunning 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with Head counterattacking courtesy of his full-flow batting.

Two late wickets in the form of Smith and night-watchman Boland did allow South Africa to claw back, but they still face the prospect of conceding a significant lead as Australia are only seven runs behind with Head unbeaten on 78 and five wickets in hand.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

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AKSHAT GAUR
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