Faf on verge of historic feat
Faf spurred on by promise of series victory over Australia
ALL THAT stand between Faf du Plessis and a historic series win are seven Australian wickets. With Peter van der Merwe (1966-67, 3-1) and Dr Ali Bacher (1969-70, 4-0) being the only South African captains to steer South Africa to series victories against Australia, Du Plessis looks set to join that illustrious pre-isolation group after his tea declaration (344/6) saw Australia having to chase a world record 612 in four sessions to square the series.
To win, Australia (88/3) not only have to pull off the highest successful run chase (418) but score the second-highest fourth-innings total in the history of the game.
With Matt Renshaw (five), Joe Burns (42) and Usman Khawaja (seven) back in the hut, Tim Paine’s side need a further 524 runs to avoid a first series defeat for Australia here in 48 years.
Du Plessis, who scored a long overdue eighth test ton and mindful of the past indignities inflicted by Australia on the hosts on this ground, dragged the game out for as long as possible, eliminating any possibility of the visitors mounting a gallant run chase.
With South Africa taking a 267-run first innings lead, the die was effectively cast when Australia were bowled out for 221 in response to South Africa’s first innings 488. The game had to be completely taken away from Australia and they could not be given any victory recourse.
With Morne Morkel nursing a side strain while Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada carried groin and back niggles, Du Plessis’s delayed declaration made sense. Morkel (2/18) shrugged off the pain to remove Queensland openers Renshaw and Burns leg-before.
Keshav Maharaj (1/45) claimed the key scalp of the other Queenslander, Khawaja, when he trapped him in front without offering a shot.
South Africa’s lead was an already sizeable 401 with Du Plessis and Dean Elgar (81) on 134/3. They started 15 minutes late and after 29 balls and 22 minutes, they were hauled off the field for bad light.
It was a short break but when they returned, the grinding of Australia continued unabated. While Du Plessis free wheeled himself to a 103-ball 50 and while his second 50 came off 60 balls, Elgar was stuck on 39 for 37 balls.
His 199-ball 50 which contained 180 dot balls (equivalent to 30 overs or one session) was the slowest test 50 since Abdul Razzaq’s 204-ball effort for Pakistan against India 13 years ago.
It was the perfect foil for Du Plessis’s rumbustious and muchneeded knock in the context of the series.
Du Plessis was averaging 9.15 in the series after his first-ball duck and last scored a ton against serious opposition in 33 innings dating back to the day-night test against Australia in Adelaide in November 2016.
While he peaked early in the summer with an unbeaten 135 against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein in October, his summer has been studded with starts with three 50s and nine scores under 20.
He provided the platform and the ballast for Temba Bavuma (35*) and Philander (33*) to punch the necessary cameos to push the lead past 600.
The 142 afternoon session runs drilled in just 29 overs made up for the funereal 68 runs scored in 20 overs in the gloomy morning session.
Pat Cummins (4/58) ended the 170-run fifth-wicket alliance when he coaxed an edge from Du Plessis that was well taken by Peter Handscomb in the slip cordon. Elgar’s monastic innings was ended by Nathan Lyon (2/116) after the southpaw’s agricultural swipe did not go further than Shaun Marsh at mid-off.
Cummins deservedly took Australia’s final scalp of the series when he trapped Quinton de Kock (four), plumb in front.