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On Friday night Usman Khawaja quipped that it would be “harsh” if Pat Cummins declared with the opening batsman five runs shy of a historic double century. By noon on Saturday, the weather took the decision out of the captain’s hands.
Cummins put the team first when he walked over to South African captain Dean Elgar shortly after 1pm AEDT and said they’d have a bowl.
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It left Khawaja parked on 195, but as former captain Adam Gilchrist said as the Proteas walked off 6-149 at 6:20pm local time the skipper “did the right thing in pursuit of victory.”
“I think everyone in that group will support his decision, even Usman,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
Pat Cummins took 3-29 on day four to give Australia a sniff of victory on day five to seal a 3-0 series victory over South Africa. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
It leaves the home side requiring 14 wickets on day five of the rain-interrupted third and final Test to claim a three-nil series clean sweep.
While Mike Hussey said the SCG deck had the wear and tear of a “two-and-a-half-day” pitch, you wouldn’t rule out Australia ripping through the Proteas and bowling them out again inside a day.
Indeed, late on day four, CricViz gave Australia an 85 per cent chance of claiming the New Year’s Test, as Josh Hazlewood, who bowled a fabulous opening spell to claim Elgar’s wicket for 15, steamed in to bowl to all-rounder Marco Jansen (10*) and off-spinner Simon Harmer (6*).
Before that, Australia had made constant inroads as the brittle Proteas batting order once again failed to keep the home side at bay.
Hazlewood consistently beat the bat as he charged in from the Paddington End and constantly had Elgar beaten on the outside edge.
Eventually, he found Elgar’s edge and Steve Smith looked to have snared a brilliant one-handed catch low to his right.
Elgar, just like Marnus Labuschagne three days earlier, was not moved on six. Similarly to day one, third-umpire Richard Kettleborough believed that part of the ball hit the ground despite Smith’s fingers spread underneath it. Labuschagne and Elgar could see the humour in it all as the partisan crowd let out a sigh of frustration.
Former Australian umpire Simon Taufel agreed with the decision.
“The really good angle in that process was from behind the slips cordon when you saw the ball actually on the ground, and I’m very happy that Richard has made that call,” the respected former umpire said on Channel 7.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood took five wickets between them on day four to give Australia a chance of victory at the SCG. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Soon after Hazlewood had his man, as the returning right-arm quick bounced out Elgar and Alex Carey did the rest behind the stumps to leave the tourists 1-22.
Heinrich Klaasen joined Sarel Erwee at the crease and the duo took up the fight.
They saw off the new ball bowlers but after Erwee cut Nathan Lyon well, the off-spinner had his man as the left-hander was castled without playing a shot.
Former South African batsman Jonty Rhodes’ jaw dropped in the SEN commentary box as the tourists’ woes continued.
He later took to Twitter to say there were “only two types of leaves when you are a batter.. #goodorbad”.
Suffice to say Erwee’s was the wrong one.
2-37 quickly became 3-37 as Cummins removed Klassen caught behind.
Temba Bavuma (35) made yet another start, but the experienced right-hander exposed his outside edge against Hazlewood and the big quick had his second.
Then Cummins took over.
The right-arm quick came around the wicket and trapped Khaya Zondo in front with a vicious delivery that banged into his foot.
Zondo sent it upstairs but the right-hander had to go for 39.
Kyle Verreynne copped a couple of brutes from Cummins and on 19 eventually fell as Smith snaffled him in the slips.
“This is really nasty stuff here from Pat Cummins … this is an inspired spell of fast bowling,” former England bowler Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket.
“Sharks circling at the moment, he wants the ball as quickly as possible.”
Gilchrist, meanwhile, marvelled at Cummins’ inspired bowling spell, where he will start day five with figures of 3-29.
“Not only are we watching one of the great athletes – think of the finest thoroughbreds, the great decathletes of the world – you’re watching one that does it all on a cricket field, but one of the smartest cricketers too, Pat Cummins,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
“He knows how to work over an opponent, he does it beautifully. It’s such a joy to watch.
“He’s just too clever, too skilful. So talented … the stamina that he has, the hunger to succeed.”
South Africa survived a late attack from Lyon and Hazlewood, but they won’t have the constant rain to help them survive on day five as Australia press hard for the kill.
If the home side made some early inroads, they will smell blood in the water.
“South Africa grimly hanging on for dear life,” Mike Hussey said.
Day five resumes at 10am AEDT, with 98 overs scheduled for the day’s play.
© AAP
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