After De Kock ton, Proteas need 7 wickets to sweep series

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa need seven more wickets to win the third Test at the Wanderers and sweep the series after Pakistan were 153/3 at the close of play on Sunday, still 228 runs short of a daunting winning target.

Dale Steyn claimed two wickets and Duane Olivier the other for his 22nd of the series as South Africa removed the top order after Pakistan had made a solid start with a 67-run opening wicket partnership. Pakistan had been set a target of 381 to win after bowling their hosts out for 303 before tea on the third day. They will resume with Asad Shafiq on 48 and Babar Azam on 17.

Imam-ul-haq and Shan Masood attacked the South African pacers before Steyn made a quick double breakthrough. Haq got a feint edge as Steyn moved the ball across the left hander and was out for 35 and Shan soon followed after a TV review, adjudged to have got an inside edge.

Olivier then claimed out-ofform Azhar Ali as wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock took his third catch.

Olivier is now three wickets off equalling South Africa’s 117year-old record for the most wickets in a three Test series.

De Kock hit the highest score of the series. He scored 129 off 138 balls for only the second century of the series, following Faf du Plessis’ 103 in the second Test.

Hashim Amla added 71 after South Africa had resumed on 135/5 with 21 from Kagiso Rabada as they provided support to De Kock. Amla was the first to go, touching his glove to a rising delivery from Hasan Ali. Rabada featured in a 79-run stand for the eighth wicket with De Kock.

BRIEFSCORESAFTERDAY3: Pakistan 185 and 153/3 (Shafiq 48*). South Africa 262 and 303 (De Kock 129, Amla 71).