Australia boost hopes of victory by taking six wickets of South Africa
Australia declared their first innings at 475 for four and made a strong move to clean up the three-match Test series by taking six wickets against South Africa at the end of a rain-affected fourth day’s play here on Saturday. . Cummins took three wickets in fast bowler-friendly conditions, taking three wickets, while Hazlewood got two and Nathan Lyon got one success. South Africa’s team is still 327 runs behind Australia in the first innings.
To win this match, Australia will have to follow on by quickly taking the remaining four wickets of South Africa on the last day of the match on Sunday. And then all the wickets in the second innings have to be taken. With a win in this match, Australia will secure their place in the final of the World Test Championship. Play was not possible on Friday due to rain. It rained on Saturday morning as well, washing out the pre-lunch session. Cummins was forced to declare the innings.
Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 195 but Australia rose to the challenge of taking 20 wickets in five sessions to seal victory. In the ninth over of the innings itself, wicketkeeper Alex Carey took a brilliant catch by captain Dean Elgar (13) off Hazlewood to give Australia a great start. Lyon was then dismissed by Sarel Ervi and Cummins by Heinrich Klaasen, leaving South Africa at 37 for three.
Temba Bavuma and Khaya Jodo shared a 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket but Hazlewood gave South Africa the fourth blow by dismissing Bavuma. Cummins was trapped leg before on a yorker after sharing a 45-run partnership with Jondo Kyle Verrain. He scored 39 runs. After this, Cummins raised the hopes of the team’s victory by ending Vereen’s 19-run innings. At stumps, Marco Jansen was on 10 and Simon Harmer was on six.
