- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
A third successive day of dominance from South Africa has the Proteas poised to claim an emphatic victory over the Australian cricket team. Join The Roar for live scores of the fifth and final day from 1:30pm (AEDT).
The morale of the Aussies took a beating on Day 4. Opening the day at 6/390, the South Africans quickly snuffed out any realistic hope of an Australian victory.
» Live stream every Australian cricket match online
Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander both brought up their half-centuries in the first session as the lead swelled past 450. Although de Kock perished to Mitchell Marsh on the cusp of the lunch break, there was little respite for the Australians.
A quick fire 72-run partnership from debutant Keshav Maharaj and Philander pushed the lead well past 500 after the lunch break. The dismissal of Philander finally prompted a declaration from the visitors, ending the misery for the Australian bowling attack.
Two overturned decisions via DRS and a simple dropped catch by Josh Hazlewood did little to aid the Australian cause. After nearly 12 hours in the hot Perth sun, both fielders and bowlers showed the mental and physical toll of the past two days.
Lacking spearhead Dale Steyn, it came as no surprise to see South Africa bat well into Day 4. By setting a score of 539 – over a 100 runs more than the current highest successful run chase – du Plessis all but ensured that his team alone could claim victory.
Nonetheless the Australians would have maintained a sliver of hope while David Warner remained at the crease. Much like his first innings Warner attacked the South African quicks scoring at better than a run a ball, racing to 35.
Enter the diminutive Temba Bavuma, who produced a runout for the ages.
Fielding at point Bavuma was quick to pounce on a back-foot prod by Warner as he dived and threw down the middle stump in the same motion. The direct hit saw a surprised Warner centimetres short of his crease.
Things went from bad to worse for the Aussies, as Shaun Marsh promptly followed his partner to the pavilion courtesy of a good length ball from Rabada.
Despite an overturned decision and a few close calls, skipper Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja were able to stymie the South Africans for a time. But even as the pair gradually built towards a hundred-run partnership, a nagging line coupled with a hint of movement from Rabada never let the batsmen settle.
The young paceman was rewarded for his good work, accounting for both Smith and local boy Voges in quick succession to close out Day 4.
With the out-of-form Mitchell Marsh and Peter Neville preceding the tail, the prospect of Australia saving the Test looks bleak even with the absence of Steyn. The bulk of the batting responsibility will fall on Khawaja who remains not out on 58 after a scratchy but dogged innings.
Rabada and Philander have looked threatening as they target cracks on the pitch getting the ball to move sharply or creating some variable bounce.
The pitch also has started to provide some assistance for the spinners, with Maharaj getting appreciable spin on occasion as he continues to impress in his debut match.
Without the assistance of a freak weather event – none of which have been forecast – the Australians face an almost an insurmountable task of saving this Test. While the Proteas only have three front line bowlers healthy, a tricky fifth-day pitch coupled with disciplined bowling may prove too much for the remaining Australian batsmen.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.