Big-hearted Morne on fire

South Africa could afford to take their time with the bat yesterday as they piled up a lead of 611 against Australia in the fourth Test at the Wanderers, but fast bowler Morne Morkel, playing in his last game for the Proteas, seemed in a rush to get the series done and dusted when he roared in from the Corlett Drive End.

Australia ended the penultimate day of the series on 88/3, and Morkel’s spell of 2/18 in eight overs was made even more great by the fact that he was suffering from a side strain, one of several niggles the pace bowlers were suffering that reportedly delayed South Africa’s declaration.

The Proteas had batted through to tea in scoring 344/6, captain Faf du Plessis stroking a morale-boosting 120 after his lean pickings in recent times. But after all the talk about Rabada having a back strain, Philander struggling with his groin and Morkel injured from the first innings, that trio were all in action from the start of Australia’s second innings.

Philander could have had Matt Renshaw caught in the gully, but Temba Bavuma dropped the low chance, and the first wicket only came in the 13th over, Morkel’s second, when he fired a full inswinger into Renshaw’s pads to have him lbw for five.

Usman Khawaja, making little effort to play a shot, was beaten by the flight and turn from Keshav Maharaj, being out lbw for seven.

Joe Burns could at least feel proud of the fight he showed in scoring 42, but Morkel (below) trapped him lbw as well.

South Africa began the day on 134/3, and play was first delayed for 15 minutes and then interrupted for 16 by bad light. But it did not stop Du Plessis from playing with increasing fluency.

Dean Elgar was content to play the sheet-anchor role in scoring 81 in 377 minutes, off 250 balls.

Australian paceman Pat Cummins took 4/58 to finish with match figures of 9/141.