Morkel, du Plessis take South Africa close to series win

South Africa were 202 for three at lunch, an overall lead of 469. South African captain Du Plessis made 81 not out and opening batsman Dean Elgar was on 59 not out.

A heavily-strapped Morne Morkel made two breakthroughs as South Africa pushed for victory on the final session on day four of the fourth Test against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium.

Australia, set an impossible 612 to win, were 88 for three when bad light ended play.

The tall Morkel, playing in his final Test before retirement, dismissed both opening batsmen in an impressive eight-over spell.

South Africa delayed their second-innings declaration until tea, with a team spokesperson citing concerns about injuries to all three of their fast bowlers.

The main worry appeared to be the fitness of Morkel, who left the field and was unable to complete an over on Sunday with what was described as a side strain.

But a later diagnosis was that the problem was a less severe abdominal strain.

Morkel, with extensive strapping around his midriff, came on to bowl as second change and with his tenth ball trapped Matt Renshaw leg before wicket with a full-length delivery angled in to the left-hander.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also won a leg before decision, when Usman Khawaja played no shot to a ball which spun sharply out of the rough, before Morkel struck again when Joe Burns played across a ball of almost yorker length.

Burns, one of three replacements for the Australian trio banned for their role in a ball-tampering scandal, made 42 off 84 balls with five fours and a six.

South Africa's other fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, were struggling with a stiff lower back and a groin strain respectively. They both bowled short spells with the new ball.

TEA REPORT

South Africa finally decided to declare after reaching 344 for 6 at tea in the fourth day of the final Test match at Wanderers, giving Australia a mammoth target of 612 runs.

Australia would require a world record to save the series, which will be South Africa’s first ever win against the Aussies on their home soil.

Resuming after lunch with a lead of 469 runs, South African captain Faf du Plessis reached his eighth Test ton off just 163 balls piling on the misery of a depleted Australian bowling attack.

Du Plessis came out with an attacking mindset, possibly with an eye on an early declaration. But surprisingly, the hosts carried on even after du Plessis reached his hundred and South Africa’s lead well in excess of 500.

Du Plessis (120) was finally out to Pat Cummins, trying to fend off a delivery that bounced awkwardly from a good length area.

Elgar (81) and de Kock (4) too joined du Plessis in the shades but there were no signs of a declaration. With a 2-1 lead in the series, Bavuma and Philander then had the license to use the long handle. Bavuma played some fine strokes managing his way to an unbeaten 35 off just 40 balls.

LUNCH REPORT

Faf du Plessis made his first major contribution of the series as South Africa moved further ahead of Australia on the fourth day of the final Test at the Wanderers.

South Africa were 202 for three at lunch, an overall lead of 469. South African captain Du Plessis made 81 not out and opening batsman Dean Elgar was on 59 not out.

Du Plessis, who made only 55 runs in his first seven innings in the series, needed lengthy treatment after a ball from Pat Cummins split open the right index finger he broke earlier in the season. He suffered the blow when he was on 43.

Only 20 overs were bowled on a heavily overcast morning. Bad light delayed the start, there was a 16-minute stoppage for more bad light and a further delay when Du Plessis was injured.

South Africa, who lead the series 2-1 and need only to draw to clinch their first home series win against Australia since 1969/70, added 68 runs without losing a wicket.

Elgar crawled to a half-century off 199 balls, ironically reaching the mark with a six off Mitchell Marsh.