Australia Vs South Africa 3rd Test: Day 4 – Summary and Analysis

1.   On Day 4 of this test match South Africa continued from where they left off as both Ab de Villiers and Quinton de Kock shared a 68-run partnership to further assure South Africa’s dominance.

2.   Australia got some relief after ABD and de Kock were removed by Hazelwood and Cummins respectively. But they were in for a surprise as the South African tail-enders began to give their bowlers a tough time on the field.

3.   South Africa’s tail contributed 83-runs with Vernon Philander remaining unbeaten to propel South Africa’s lead to 430-runs.

4.   Lyon and Hazelwood did good to get rid of the tail and prevent South Africa from taking their lead above 450 runs.

5.   Australia now had a tough job to do as they now required 430 runs to win. Their openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft got set on the crease with the intent to prevent a humiliating loss.

6.   Both batsmen made good starts and shared a partnership of 57-runs before Bancroft got run out thanks to Faf du plessis’s direct throw at the stumps.

7.   In walked Usman Khawaja who joined Warner on the crease. Both batsmen now had the job to see the day off but Rabada did not spare Warner as he got him out again!

8.   He was closely followed by Usman Khawaja who edged to slip off Maharaj’s excellent spin bowling. Australia were now three wickets down for only 59 runs. Steve Smith needed a big partnership with Marsh to ensure they were in the game.

9.   However, Marsh was no match for Maharaj’s exquisite bowling as he went back for a first ball duck.

10.   South Arica could sense a collapse now and they were right as Morkel struck    twice in his over to get rid of Mitchell Marsh and Cummins.

11.   Australia were now 7 down for only 86 runs. South Africa had surely submitted Australia into submission.

12.   And, they did not pull their foot off the gas as Morkel claimed the wicket of Starc followed by Nathan Lyon who got run out by Bavuma.

13.   Australia were now 9/94 and South Africa were only 1 wicket away to claim a victory in this match. Morkel provided his country with the last wicket of Josh Hazelwood and claimed a five-for to win the match.

14.   This was surely a gruesome victory as South Africa claimed this win by 322 runs to send Australia into the ground.

15.   South Africa now lead this 4-match series by 2-1. They surely are at an advantage as they have dismissed the possibility of losing this series.

16.   Australia, on the other hand should take heed of their continuous mistakes and come back strongly in the next match to avoid a humiliating loss in this series.

D Elgar

AK Markram

HM Amla

AB de Villiers

F du Plessis (c)

T Bavuma

Q de Kock

VD Philander

KA Maharaj

K Rabada

M Morkel

DA Warner

CT Bancroft

UT Khawaja

SPD Smith (c)

SE Marsh

MR Marsh

TD Paine

PJ Cummins

MA Starc

NM Lyon

JR Hazlewood