Sports

South Africa v Australia: fourth Test, day four

April 02, 2018 17:12·
Elgar celebrates a superb catch to remove Tim Paine

Elgar celebrates a superb catch to remove Tim Paine

They are still nowhere near saving the Test match - South Africa lead by 401 with seven second-innings wickets left - but they were significantly better on Sunday than they were in the first two days. Morne Morkel injured Morkel, playing in his last Test before retiring from global cricket, broke down as South Africa toiled in search of a breakthrough, leaving the field two balls into his fourth over of the day. SouthAfrica, leading the series 2-1, did not enforce follow on despite bowling out Australia for 221 and taking a first innings lead of 267. While Du Plessis remained unbeaten on 34, Elgar scored 39 off a whopping 158 deliveries. Australia need victory to avoid a first series defeat in South Africa since 1970, but have been rocked by the ball-tampering scandal that saw former captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft sent home and slapped with hefty bans after the third test in Cape Town.

That history might have been lost on an Australia team anxious, instead, for its future after the ball-tampering scandal from the last match in Cape Town led to long-term bans for captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft, and thrust Paine into the top job. Despite batting with a hairline fracture in his right thumb, he made a defiant 62 before being the last man out.

Cummins was given out lbw to Maharaj upon review shortly after reaching his maiden Test 50, leaving Paine to bat with the rest of the tail. The skipper Faf du Plessis copped a blow to his finger as the pitch became increasingly hard to bat due to uneven bounce.

"Not sure what South Africa are doing out there, just blocking & boring everyone", Shane Warne posted on Twitter.

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All eyes will now be on a declaration, though South Africa will not want to give Australia a sniff of victory with seamer Morne Morkel unlikely to bowl in the remainder of what is his final Test before retirement from worldwide cricket having picked up a side strain on Sunday.

When du Plessis was hit and reeled away, dropping his bat, Paine came over and appeared to show some concern for his opposite number.

Sunday was the first time that one of the team had faced the media without questions about the incident and Paine says the players want to prove wrong those critics who said they would roll over in the fourth test.

As du Plessis and Paine stood together, the Bob Marley song "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" played on the stadium speakers.

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