Proteas take control despite a fightback
AUSTRALIAN SKIPPER PAINE SCORES BATTLING 62
South Africa moved into a powerful position despite a fightback by Australia and an injury to fast bowler Morne Morkel on the third day of the fourth Test at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday.
South Africa finished the day on 134 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 401.
The Proteas, leading the series 2- 1, need only to draw to beat Australia in a home series for the first time since 1969- 70.
But Australia provided the fight that had been promised the previous evening by bowling coach David Saker.
From a seemingly hopeless overnight total of 110 for six, they added another 111 runs before being bowled out.
South Africa did not enforce the follow on, with doubts about the ability of Morkel to bowl because of a side strain.
Australia’s bowlers then restricted the hosts to a run rate of 2.4 in the second innings.
New captain Tim Paine set the example in the morning. Despite batting with a hairline fracture of his right thumb, he
made a defiant 62 before being last man out.
Paine and Pat Cummins walked out to resume the Australian innings on a heavily overcast morning, with their team facing the humiliation of being bowled out quickly and forced to follow on.
But they stayed together for most of the morning, with Cummins making a Test- best 50 off 92 balls before he missed a sweep and was leg before wicket to left- arm spinner Keshav Maharaj shortly before lunch. Their seventh wicket partnership was worth 99, the best for any wicket by Australia in the series.
Morkel, playing in his last Test before retiring from international cricket, broke down as South Africa toiled in search of a breakthrough, leaving the field two balls into his fourth over of the day.