SA vs AUS, 4th Test, Day 3, Review: South Africa tighten their grip as the lead crosses 400

The fourth and final Test match between South Africa and Australia seems to be a foregone conclusion as the hosts have tightened their grip firmly. The lead has crossed 400 in the second innings for them and it is highly unlikely that the disconsolate visitors would chase the total given the state of the pitch. Earlier, it was the fighting stand between Tim Paine and Pat Cummins which reduced the deficit for Australia and kept the home side in the middle enough time for them to not enforce the follow-on.

In the morning, Tim Paine came out to bat leading by an example despite sustaining a hairline fracture to his thumb. Cummins and he batted well and defied the hosts’ bowlers who were entertaining the hopes of cleaning up the tail as quickly as possible. They added 99 runs for the seventh wicket partnership which frustrated the Proteas significantly. Both completed their respective half-centuries before Cummins was pinned in front by Keshav Maharaj.

But Paine continued bravely and scored 62 runs during his stay in the middle. Eventually, Australia were bowled out for 221 runs handing a mammoth lead of 267 runs to the home side and with that the series as well. South Africa didn’t enforce the follow-on as they aimed to give their bowlers some rest.

Aussies fight but SA coast

South Africa, in their second innings, looked far more confident as Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar added 54 runs together. The former was absolutely special as he played some beautiful strokes and helped his partner to ease himself out in the middle. But Cummins once again came to the fore for the visitors and plucked Markram on 37 which brought the struggling Hashim Amla to the crease. Australia didn’t give up and bowled very nicely thereby restricting the flow of runs significantly.

Amla’s 48-ball vigil was ended by Nathan Lyon as he scored only 16 runs, to sum up his series in which he scored only a solitary half-century in 8 innings. AB de Villiers was snaffled by Cummins with a brute of a delivery which got big on the batsman and he could only edge it to the wicket-keeper. Meanwhile, Elgar fought his way throughout and made sure he stayed there until the end. The skipper Faf du Plessis copped a blow to his finger as the pitch became increasingly difficult to bat due to uneven bounce.

Though he found some form finally and played delightful strokes to regain his old confidence. South Africa posted 134 runs for the loss of 3 wickets until the stumps and stretched their lead past 400. While Du Plessis remained unbeaten on 34, Elgar scored 39 off a whopping 158 deliveries. Cummins was once again the best bowler for Australia scalping two wickets to back up his first innings five-wicket haul.

It is only a matter of time for South Africa to declare their second innings now as they will be aiming to bat for around an hour on the fourth day. It will be interesting to see the way Australia will bat as they will have to win the game to draw the series which looks highly unlikely at this stage.

Brief Scores

South Africa 488 after 136.5 overs (A Markram 152, T Bavuma 95, De Villiers 69; P Cummins 5/83, N Lyon 3/182) & 134/3 after 56 overs (D Elgar 39*; P Cummins 2/35)

Australia 221 after 70 overs (T Paine 62, U Khawaja 53; V Philander 3/30, K Rabada 3/53)

State of the Match: South Africa lead by 401 runs

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