Source : the age
Pat Cummins has taken the new ball.
Some runs after lunch. First, Rickelton hit Renshaw for four to move to 48. Then Mulder went to work, hitting Nathan Lyon for six over mid-on, before driving Renshaw to the ropes.
Mitchell Starc has the new Kookaburra in his hands. He had one ball with the old one before he asked the umpire for the new rock.
Can Starc repeat his feat from the first innings, where he took four wickets in six balls with the second new ball? Runs to begin with though, with four leg buys followed by three to Mulder.
Runs are flowing nicely now for the Proteas.
Welcome back. It’s the second session. Pat Cummins has opted to start with Matt Renshaw straight after lunch. He almost broke through just before the luncheon break, with Ryan Rickelton playing and missing rather than edging behind.
There’s just five overs until the second new ball is due. That’s where Mitchell Starc did the damage in the first innings.
The Proteas will be out to consolidate, especially with the new Kookaburra around the corner.
Another circumspect first over after lunch. It’ll be Nathan Lyon from the other end. So spin from both ends until the new ball is available.
South Africa are 5-203
That’s lunch.
South Africa have won the first session. They might have only scored 62 runs but they only lost one wicket. Their lead is modest. It’s 102, at present. But they’ll be pleased to have moved that on from 40 this morning. Lyon looked the most threatening but didn’t take a wicket, while Cummins picked up the only wicket – Breetzke for 43.
Rickelton is 38, Mulder is 5
South Africa 5-202
Big appeal! Not out says the umpire but the Aussies are convinced that Ryan Rickelton has edged Matt Renshaw.
Pat Cummins sends the decision up. It’s not out. There’s a big gap between bat and ball, with the bat hitting the ground. The ball deviated off Alex Carey’s gloves to first-slip. Anyway, not out. It looked good off at first glance but a fine decision by the umpire.
One over left until lunch.
South Africa 5-201.
South Africa have brought up 200 and, importantly, their lead is now 100 after Rickelton’s single down the ground off Lyon.
The home side have lost 1-60 so far on day four. It’s been their morning so far, but if Australia can take another one soon they’ll feel happy with their work. Starc replaces Cummins in the attack. Lyon has bowled all morning from the other end.
Rickelton is 38, Mulder 5.
South Africa 5-200
Gone! Out of nowhere and Pat Cummins gets his first wicket. It’s Breetzke.
It was short of a length and Breeztke fell for the trap. It was a leg-side heavy field and Cummins was bowling around the wicket and the right-hander gets a slight top-edge to fine leg and Mitchell Starc takes a simple catch on the boundary. It’s a bad shot. There was a short fine leg, a wide fine leg on the boundary and the 27-year-old is out and goes for 43.
Dan Brettig on the ground writes: Cummins has finally got a wicket, 374 balls since his last. Breetzke’s patience has been repeatedly tested by Australia, and he finally succumbed with a hook shot that sailed into the hands of Starc at fine leg. Breetzke’s anger was clear, swatting his bat at the air before he walks off, while Cummins celebrated pointedly. It was a new experience for him, waiting so long for a wicket – his previous long drought had been just 257 balls, during the Adelaide and Perth Tests against India in the home summer of 2018-19.
Rickelton is 24, Mulder is 1.
South Africa is 5-182
Matthew Breetzke is taking the attack to the Australians. First, a glorious cover-drive to the boundary off Pat Cummins. Technically perfect from the right-hander.
One over later Breetzke is down on a knee and slog-sweeping to the wide mid-on boundary off Nathan Lyon. Breeztke is 43, Rickelton 24. The 50-run partnership is up too.
The lead is building steadily. It’s now 81. Australia still probably just a head but they’ll be eager to end this partnership quickly and hope one wicket brings a second one immediately.
South Africa 4-181
The Fox cricket team’s view: South Africa are on top.
“I think they’ve applied themselves well,” David Warner says. “This partnership has been outstanding; just the wake they’re milking them off the pads.
“Nathan Lyon’s the threat.”
I agree. The so-called GOAT is landing them in the rough and he’s getting some pace, bounce and spin. He’s the only one who has troubled the home side in the opening hour.
Pat Cummins is into the attack for the first time. The skipper, who is searching for a breakthrough, having been wicketless in the past three innings, has it after drinks. He’s pitching it up too.
Rickelton is 24, Breetzke 33.
South Africa 4-171
Proper arm-wrestle this in the opening hour of day four. 30 runs from 13 overs. Both Rickelton (24) and Breetzke (33) look up for the fight. Mark Waugh and Graeme Smith were saying ahead of day four that a lead of 250 would be a must for the home side to stand a chance, and that looks a good tip for now.
Nathan Lyon has started to get some fizz and give the batsmen something to think about, but the pitch is still a good one to bat on. There’s turn but the bounce is consistent.
Cooper Connolly brought on and his first over was a relatively expensive one, with nine off it. With that, pressure’s been released ever so slightly. The Aussies will be hoping that they switch off with the heart-rate going up.
South Africa’s lead is 70 at drinks. The Proteas have won the opening hour of day four, that’s for sure.
South Africa 4-170 off 60
Just the one run from Nathan Lyon’s first over, with Breetzke moving to 20.
Mitchell Starc handed the ball from the other end. It’s the 100th Test that Lyon and Starc have played together. Starc was Lyon’s best man at his wedding a couple of years ago, so they’re a combination that like bowling together. Starc’s left-arm over will also help the rough build and open up for Lyon to aim his off-spinners at the right-handers too.
Two runs off Starc’s first over, with both men taking singles. So the Proteas are away and they’ll feel happier about themselves to have both hit an early run.
Seven runs from the opening four overs. It’s been a relatively subdued start to day four. The Proteas have looked quite comfortable early on, but there’s been one or two turn sharply for Lyon so far.
South Africa 4-153, Rickelton 16 and Breetzke 24
