(Getty Images)

What a session that was for South Africa.

Real fire and ice stuff from Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen, who go to lunch in the midst of a 106-run partnership.

Bavuma has looked uber composed throughout his knock, while Jansen has executed his counterpunch perfectly.

119 runs for the session and, crucially, just one wicket lost by the Proteas.

Australia well and truly crying out for Josh Hazlewood to make his return to the bowling crease in the second session.

As an aside — can anyone think of a Test batting duo with a more dramatic difference in height than these two?

This should be the final over before lunch.

Alex Carey is up to the stumps and has a slip and a gully to his right.

Temba Bavuma on strike and defending.

Three balls remain in the session.

I don't imagine Bavuma will be doing anything too expressive before the break.

The South Africa captain is forward and defending stoutly.

And again.

Another dot to end the session.

I wonder how Nathan Lyon is feeling right now.

This is now a time killing exercise for the Pat Cummins, with ten overs remaining until the new ball.

Bavuma is working a single to Maddinson's skiddy left-arm orthodox before Jansen drives for a single.

Three singles from the over.

Cummins must be dying for Hazlewood to be permitted back to the bowling crease.

Mustn't be long now.

Instead, it's Beau Webster.

He's bowling his seamers and Bavuma is defending a couple and then working a single.

Carey is up to the stumps and Jansen is working one off the hip for a run.

The batters trade another couple singles.

And Jansen is defending to end the over.

Fifth over on the trot here for Renshaw.

The batters are unbothered in trading singles from the first couple balls of the set.

Another single brings up the 100-run partnership between Bavuma and Jansen.

What a superb counter punch this has been.

Pat Cummins looking a little devoid of ideas right now.

Starc continues from over the wicket to Jansen, and he has a slip and a gully to work with as he charges in.

Jansen nudges one into the off-side and the batters are through for a quick single.

Bit of a nothing length from Starc and Bavuma is standing up and pulling forward of square for a single.

A good short one from Starc has Jansen getting his gloves out of its path.

Bang! This one doesn't quite get up and Jansen is slogging well forward of square for a boundary.

The ball made a quite peculiar thud when it hit the bat and Jansen signalled that he had an issue straight away.

It looks like his blade has cracked up the handle.

Four of five potential replacement bats are taken out to the middle and Jansen takes a while to decide which one he wants.

He eventually does and uses it to defend out into the off-side to end the over.

That was a much more satisfying thud.

It's Temba Bavuma on strike, and the South African captain is defending to begin the over.

Pretty good spell this from Rensahw, who is yet to offer up a real loose delivery.

And Bavuma is defending for a maiden over.

Top edge! Jansen gets a short one and miscues his pull shot horribly, the ball floating high in the air from the top edge off his bat. It looks like Scott Boland hasn't quite picked it up from the boundary and doesn't get anywhere near the ball before it falls to turf. Boland didn't have any chance of getting there in any case.

Jansen drives a low full toss through the covers and the batters run three.

Short again to end the over and Jansen is unable to make connection with his pull shot.

Quicker from Renshaw and Jansen is wafting outside off.

It's a sharp take from Carey and the Australians are convinced they have their man.

The on-field decision is out but Jansen doesn't hesitate in sending the decision upstairs...

And yep, with good reason.

The replays show the inside edge of Jansen's bat had made contact with pad, not ball.

The big man survives.

I don't think Temba Bavuma will mind that.

The South African captain just nudges one to long on for a single.

Pat Cummins turns to his premier strike bowler, and Starc is charging in from over the wicket, angling across Jansen.

The field is spread a touch but Jansen isn't bothered — the big man flays one on the bounce to mid on before finding a diving Marnus Labuschagne at cover.

Good stop from the Queenslander.

Jansen is beaten outside off and that's over.

Jansen strides forward and bunts Renshaw to long on for a single.

Bavuma then works a run to the sweeper deep on the off-side.

The batters trade another pair of singles.

SIX! Jansen is down on one knee and goes BANG! The South African gets every piece of it and sends the ball dead straight and hurtling towards the commentary boxes.

Bang on the money from Cummins and Jansen is defending from the top of off.

He's then flicking his vigour as he defends another one into the leg-side.

Four! Now that's a good old-fashioned slog from Jansen, who stands up and just mows Cummins to the cow corner rope.

50 for Marco Jansen! The allrounder works one off his hip and runs through for the single that brings up his fifth Test match half-century.

What a superb counter punch from the big man.

The man with the golden arm, Matt Renshaw, is thrown the ball for the first time at St. George's Park.

Bavuma works a single off the first delivery of the over and Jansen's eyes must be lighting up as he takes guard against the part timer.

But the towering allrounder is defending a couple to begin before cutting a single.

A dot to end the over.

Four! Jansen gets a bit of width and lashes Cummins forward of point.

This has been a very effective little counterattack from Jansen, who has now moved to 44 from 32 deliveries.

Brilliant! Cummins offers up an off-cutting yorker and Jansen is caught unaware, bringing his blade down far too late.

The ball just about shaves off stump on its way through to Carey.

Two slips and a gully in place for Boland as he gets Bavuma pushing towards point. No run.

Ooft, that's a belter of a straight drive from Bavuma. Picture perfect, but it's stopped at mid-on.

Another sweet drive, this time through the covers, is worth two.

Shot! Gosh. Once again, that's a beautifully timed shot. This time, Bavuma gets one angling onto his pads and drives it through mid-on for four.

Glorious.

Hello everyone.

What a huge hour of play we have ahead of us.

If Marco Jansen can keep going, and if Temba Bavuma can stay solid, South Africa will be well in this game come lunch.

The Australians will be hopeful of a little more assistance from the pitch after drinks, though I doubt they'll get it.

It's captain Pat back in the attack after a rather lengthy drinks break.

Jansen is squirting a single off an inside edge before Bavuma opens the face and glides one through point for a couple.

Another smart single into cover for the Proteas captain.

BIG! Jansen takes on the short ball and that's six! It was a bit of a top edge, in truth, but has enough to fly over the fielder on the square boundary.

Jansen flashes expressively for a couple to end the over.

He's got Jansen on strike and prodding at a wide one without making contact.

Cummins has dropped himself deep at mid off now too, about halfway to the fence, as Jansen continues to absolutely moose those straight drives.

Jansen is cramped up and fends away to the leg side, where he is able to take a single.

Bavuma is watchful and he sees the over. With that they will take a drink, and I will hand you over to Henry Hanson. Enjoy!

Jansen is on strike, but not for long. He takes a quick single to cover.

More good running, another sharp single to Bavuma's tally.

There's a sweeper on the off side for Jansen now. He takes a gentle single out to him to bring up the 150.

Starc comes around the wicket to finish up that set. Three from the over.

Alex Carey has moved up to the stumps to try to through Marco Jansen off his rhythm.

SIX RUNS! Is Marco Jansen the best batter in the world? Hard to argue against it right now. He has just hit Scott Boland back over his head for six with the most gorgeous check drive you've ever seen. This is spectacular.

Carey is sent back so Boland can try some short stuff to Jansen. It's a long way up there, and Jansen respects the effort by leaving the ball alone.

Fun to watch at the moment! The over ends.

Starc is bowling to Bavuma now, and it's a slightly different game with the skipper on strike. Bavuma and Jansen, quite the odd couple out there.

BEATEN! That's a lovely ball. Just left Bavuma a little and nearly found the edge.

AND AGAIN! Starc is troubling Bavuma with a bit of bounce and the natural angle across him.

Turns out that second one was actually a no ball. And then the next one is a wide full toss. Starcy maybe losing his run up a little.

FOUR AND 50 FOR BAVUMA! Starc strays onto the pads, Bavuma whips it fine and celebrates a crucial half-century. A captain's knock so far. Not done yet.

Over bowled.

A reminder, Josh Hazlewood is back out there today but can not bowl for a few hours due to the time he spent off the field yesterday. So the quartet is a trio for a little while yet.

Boland to Jansen.

FOUR RUNS! Jansen is creaming them here. An elegant little glance off the front pad this time which races to the midwicket fence.

SHOT! Holy moly, that might be the sweetest shot I've seen in my entire life. How about the eight-foot tall bloke playing a Ponting-esque on-drive? That was beautiful, brings a tear to the eye.

It's the Marco Jansen show at the moment. Eight more from that Boland over.

FOUR! Jansen flays at his first ball and gets a thick under-edge which squirts through the cordon for four. He's off the mark.

BEATEN! Starc squares Jansen up and nearly takes his outside edge. Jansen is desperate for bat on ball early.

FOUR MORE! Really nicely timed from Jansen there. Just a back-foot shove through backward-point, but placed and timed well enough to earn a boundary.

AND FOUR MORE! Sheesh! The long levers of Marco Jansen unleash through a glorious cover drive! A thing of beauty from the big fella.

A single from the final ball means Jansen will keep the strike. He has 13 from his first over faced.

So as Starc celebrates his 450th Test wicket, the skipper will run in at Temba Bavuma again. The new man in at the othere end is Marco Jansen.

SHOT! Shot of the Test match so far. Can't play a better on drive than that one from Bavuma. Straight back past Cummins for four.

Another good short one tests Bavuma there, squaring him and taking the splice of the bat. It falls safely.

The bouncer is looking Australia's best weapon this morning. Cummins has Bavuma jumping, but crucially surviving.

Four from the over.

A fantastic review from Australia. Even on those first few replays I didn't think there was anything on that ball other than shoulder and helmet, but Ultraedge produced a little tickle of a spike as the ball was passing Mulder's glove. It was only a slight glance, but a glance it was.

A really sharp bouncer from Starc gets the first wicket of day three. Australia needed that, just a little bit.

That's the 450th wicket of the 36-year-old's Test career.

First job for the South Africans was seeing out the first half an hour today, and they've managed that with relative ease. Now they get a look at Starc.

These look to be beautiful conditions for batting. The pitch is lovely for batting and the ball is not swinging a jot. Starc is still searching for his radar in this opening over.

OUT? Starc has hit Mulder somewhere with a bouncer and the catch is taken by Renshaw at first slip. Was it bat or glove? Or all helmet? Not out is the call, but we'll have a review.

I think that is all head and shoulder I'm afraid.

Wait. WAIT. Is that a little murmur on the Ultraedge as it passes the glove? I think it might be!

Pat is a bit excited by that first ball, which is comfortably left by Bavuma. Cummins came from wider on the crease and seemed to think the off stump was in play. Not sure myself.

Good running from Bavuma, a quick single to cover. He did that particularly well last night.

Good short ball. Mulder late to react but ducks under it in the nick of time.

Nice running from Mulder now too. He drops and runs to Hazlewood at mid on, who isn't moving particularly sharply it must be said.

Bavuma defends the final ball of the over, another one safely negotiated.

BEATEN! There it is again, Mulder looking vulnerable outside the off stump. There's a nick coming there.

Boland drops short and Mulder takes a couple to the men out there on the hook. It's interesting that they are set up for the catch from a short ball instead of just peppering that outside edge. In fairness, Mulder does seem intent on playing the pull shot.

BEATEN AGAIN! Mulder might claim he played inside the line of that one. Jury's out.

Two runs from that over. South Africa has settled into the first 20 minutes of day three pretty well.

BEATEN! Mulder looks a candidate outside his off stump there. He chased after Cummins that time and was lucky not to nick it.

More leg side runs though as Mulder jams down to square leg and takes the one on offer.

There's the short one to Bavuma, and it's a good one too. Bavuma bails out of the way at the last moment.

Just the one off the over, and Australia succeed in keeping Mulder on strike for the beginning of Boland's next over.

It's been noted on the broadcast that Boland is bowling from the slightly more comfortable end, with his run up ever so slightly downhill. Which means captain Cummins is taking one for the team and running in ever so slightly uphill.

Boland is probing a very tight line to Bavuma, getting him to play as much as possible. One ball is slightly too short though and Bavuma is able to work it off his thigh for a single.

Square leg was back on the boundary, so Mulder's leg glance earns him an easy single.

That run means he'll keep the strike. Two off the over.

Cummins bowled well without luck yesterday. Pace was good and the short ball looked dangerous. He's got Wiaan Mulder on strike now.

FOUR! Mulder moves across his stumps and gets a thick inside edge down the leg side. Boland isn't able to reel it in on the rope. Cummins won't be concerned with that though, he's beaten the moving batter there.

There's the first short one, and Mulder plays a pull shot. Doesn't time it but it takes two runs out through midwicket.

BEATEN! A little bit of shape away from Cummins, beating the prod of Mulder who is still moving across his stumps.

Six runs from the over.

Right, let's play cricket. Josh Hazlewood is back on the field but he won't be allowed to bowl for a while as he sat out yesterday's session of play with what we believe to be a dodgy belly.

So it will be Boland from the top, chasing his fifth wicket. Temba Bavuma is on strike.

Boland is on the money immediately. Bavuma solid in his forward defence, as he has been for most of his innings.

That'll be a maiden over to kick things off then. Bavuma is in this for the long haul. Let's see if he can find some help at the other end.

It's looking like an absolutely gorgeous day right now in Gqeberha and we are certainly beginning on time.

But it ain't all good news.

The clouds are slated to roll in during the early afternoon, and the heavens a chance to open a couple hours later.

Eek.

(AccuWeather.com)

Like most of us yesterday, Russell Jackson was probably sensing another wasted day as the rain fell and the water lingered on the St George's Park surface.

But any opportunity to bowl in a Test match is one that Scott Boland and Mitch Starc won't want to waste, and they made hay despite the fact that Josh Hazlewood was indisposed through illness.

Here's Russell's analysis.

I don't think anyone was more surprised than Matt Renshaw when he snaffled a magical catch at slip to dismiss Ryan Rickleton.

Read all about that and the other things you may have missed, here.

On last night's evidence, I'm not actually sure there will be too many demons in this wicket. It spent most of yesterday baking under the sunlight and seemed to me to be playing pretty true for the most part. Only Scott Boland found any real sideways movement.

Of course Kagiso Rabada is going to be a problem, as he is on any pitch. But I reckon it's more likely it flattens out for the rest of the week now.

(AP Photo)

A lot of rain started the day, then a patch of muddy ground stopped play, and then when the players did get onto the field, it was wickets that started tumbling as Australia pressed home its advantage.

Here's how the day unfolded.

(Getty Images)

We've got some overs to make up, to put it lightly, so we will be starting early and finishing late throughout the rest of this Test.

Not by much though, only by 15 minutes at either end.

So the first ball today will be at 6.45pm AEDT, with an extra 15 minutes to be tacked on at the end of the third session as well. They're aiming for 98 overs today.

Hello, and welcome back to ABC Sport's live blog coverage of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Gqeberha. We've arrived at day three, and the skies are bring us good news at last. Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, no fear of rain at all for today and hopefully the rest of the Test.

With the weather woes out of the way, the story is now about the pursuit of a result. Australia is in a strong position after two truncated days but will need to start strongly today if they are to set up a potential win. For South Africa, some hard graft is ahead.

I'm here, Henry Hanson is here, Simon Smale is here. We're all here ready for another day of Test cricket, and as always we are delighted to have your company.