- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR3.5 edged and gone! Markram is trapped on the crease by a beautiful length, angling back into the right-hander. Caught in two minds, and he pushed with hard hands as a last resort. Smith at second slip did superbly, diving low to his left to scoop up the chance! 6/132.4 banged in short, and Amla holes out to fine leg! You can't quite say that was coming, but Hazlewood has earned that, he's found a threatening line, a consistent length, and the surprise bouncer does the trick. Amla attempts to flap it off his eyebrows, but it gets big on him, takes a top-edge, and loops to Cummins! 92/262.5 in the air and gone! Newlands is stunned into semi-silence... a full length, AB strides onto the front foot and rather yorks what should have been a half-volley, getting through the shot too soon and rifling a simple chance to Warner at mid-off. What a let-down for the crowd, what a let-off for Australia! 220/366.6 edged and Faf falls! Another fine delivery from Cummins, nipping away late and du Plessis' bat was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, drawn into a stroke then unable to resist when the ball was no longer where he had lined it up. A sharp high take at third slip, and suddenly Australia are back in the contest 234/470.3 brilliant from Cummins! Pushes Bavuma back into his crease, finds some extra nip on a good length, and a squared-up batsman sends a simple edge into Smith's bread-basket at second slip! 236/574.6 short ball, de Kock swishes at a pull - but only manages a thin nick to the keeper! Another old-ball breakthrough for Australia, another to Pat Cummins, whose four-wicket salvo has left SA thoroughly winded here! De Kock was tempted by the gap at square leg but was perhaps done for pace, tickled an under edge through to Paine 242/682.3 and that's why they're sticking with the old ball! Reverse swing does for Philander, just enough movement away to draw the edge - Mitch Marsh bags a wicket, SA continue to wobble towards the close 254/783.5 oh dear, that's a shocker... SA lose their eighth as Maharaj flubs a catch to extra cover! Brain scrambled by reverse swing and pace? Maybe... Hands hard and foot nowhere near the ball? Certainly. That's a rubbish way to go any time, but particularly when you're team is on the slide and hanging on for the close with a centurion at the other end 257/897.1 round the wicket, in the slot, a hard-handed drive, a simple edge to slip! Well, that was uncomplicated 307/997.5 edged and gone! A carbon copy of the Rabada dismissal, in the slot for the drive, and tweaking away. Lyon has two in the over, and South Africa's innings is done! 311/10Extras29 (b 13, lb 11, nb 3, w 2)TOTAL311 all out (97.5 Overs, RR: 3.17, 434 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Aiden Markram, 3.5 ov), 2-92 (Hashim Amla, 32.4 ov), 3-220 (AB de Villiers, 62.5 ov), 4-234 (Faf du Plessis, 66.6 ov), 5-236 (Temba Bavuma, 70.3 ov), 6-242 (Quinton de Kock, 74.6 ov), 7-254 (Vernon Philander, 82.3 ov), 8-257 (Keshav Maharaj, 83.5 ov), 9-307 (Kagiso Rabada, 97.1 ov), 10-311 (Morne Morkel, 97.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 21 3 81 1 3.85 0 2 JR Hazlewood 23 4 59 2 2.56 0 0 NM Lyon 19.5 6 43 2 2.16 0 0 PJ Cummins 26 6 78 4 3.00 1 0 MR Marsh 7 2 26 1 3.71 1 1 SPD Smith 1 1 0 0 0.00 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR37.4 celebrappeal from Big Vern, and with good reason, that's plumb! He doesn't bother looking at the umpire as he sets off towards the cordon, tight line, nibbling back into Bancroft's front pad. He has reviewed, but more in hope than expectation. Yep, smashing middle and leg. 150/55.2 bowled hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim! Rabada lands the decisive blow, up off the canvas and demolishing off stump! This enthralling duel is ended by Rabada slicing through Warner's tentative defence and sending the stump pinwheeling back. An extraordinary innings from Warner, struck on the arm and then responding with a flurry of boundaries before being run through, bowled off stump for the third time in the series 43/110.3 dug in short, Uzzie swivels on the pull... and sends it straight down the gullet of fine leg! Rabada with the catch in front of the stands! More whoops around Newlands as Morkel strikes with his third ball; he's always going to get extra bounce and Khawaja didn't seem to have factored that in, though he usually plays the pull shot well 61/214.4 extra lift, Smith fences at it - and sends a simple catch to gully! Smith can't believe it, Morkel looks like he can't believe it... but you'd better believe it, Australia's captain is gone, his first single-figure score since the Adelaide Ashes Test! The pace was good but Smith doesn't usually waft at those if he doesn't need to. All eyes on Rabada but Morkel is the man to take the head of the snake 72/334.3 Marsh chases the wide one, and there's the breakthrough! ... 300 Test wickets as well, and what a key moment to do so. The bounce pushed Marsh back on his heels, and he wasn't in control as he nicked to the keeper 150/441.1 gottim, that's pitch-perfect Philander on his favoured cabbage patch! Not much Marsh could do about that ball, a femme fatale on off stump, it kisses the outside edge and curves through to the keeper - chewed up and spat out. SA taking a grip here 156/650.3 that's the line, big outside edge and it's snaffled at third slip! Rabada reverses the ball away at a fair old lick and it's too good for Patty C, de Villiers plunges to his left to take the catch and Australia are seven down! 173/752.2 reversing away, Starc stretches for the ball, steered low into AB's bucket hands! Another excellent catch from third slip, diving forwards to scoop a thick edge, giving Rabada his third and denting Australia further 175/864.1 slashed in the air ... Elgar back-pedals at point ... and takes the catch! Superbly judged, at full stretch, and what a brilliant cameo that was. Lyon deserved a maiden fifty, but kept attacking to the bitter end 241/969.5 got him, steered to first slip! Hazlewood gives Rabada a fourth with a rather deferential fiddle, nicked to slip - and off they go, South Africa taking a handy 56-run lead on first innings (although it could have been a fair bit more) 255/10Extras10 (b 1, lb 5, nb 4)TOTAL255 all out (69.5 Overs, RR: 3.65, 328 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-43 (David Warner, 5.2 ov), 2-61 (Usman Khawaja, 10.3 ov), 3-72 (Steven Smith, 14.4 ov), 4-150 (Shaun Marsh, 34.3 ov), 5-150 (Cameron Bancroft, 37.4 ov), 6-156 (Mitchell Marsh, 41.1 ov), 7-173 (Pat Cummins, 50.3 ov), 8-175 (Mitchell Starc, 52.2 ov), 9-241 (Nathan Lyon, 64.1 ov), 10-255 (Josh Hazlewood, 69.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB VD Philander 15 5 26 2 1.73 0 1 K Rabada 20.5 1 91 4 4.36 0 3 M Morkel 21 7 87 4 4.14 0 0 KA Maharaj 12 3 35 0 2.91 0 0 T Bavuma 1 0 10 0 10.00 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR47.4 chipped to mid-on! Deary me, that's as soft as the cheese in Bancroft's pocket ... on the pads, clipped airily, and straight to the fielder. And once again, the interval brings a very timely breakthrough 151/39.1 pitched up, gets him driving... and gets him taken at slip! Uncharacteristically loose from Elgar and SA's first-innings linchpin departs; there were signs that he wanted to drive at Cummins in his first over, he picked up a boundary but this time it costs him. Sixth catch in the match for Smith 28/133.5 oh, he's given it away, chipped straight to cover! Amla goes when set again, perhaps signs that the old master is on the wane... It was pitched up, inviting the drive, but the Mighty Hash used to leave those all day, until they were just right. Instead, he's made a mighty hash of that, and given Australia an opening 104/282.6 draws him across, prances to take the edge - gone! That's good bowling, Hazlewood briefly turning our attention back to the game with a rising delivery, utilising the hard, new nut - it flew off the edge and Marsh pouched it safely to prise de Villiers from the crease in the 60s for the second time in the match 269/660.2 over the wicket, gives this some rip and the ball turns in to trap du Plessis on the crease... Richard Illingworth shakes his head, but David Warner, deputising for Smith, reviews. Height the main question? Maybe spinning too much from the straight, too; certainly no bat involved... but Hawk-Eye says it's smashing leg stump! An excellent review from Australia, and Faf's mini-revival in form is chopped down 196/461.1 draws him forwards, takes the edge - and it's scooped up at second slip! Peter Handscomb is the catcher, on the field for Smith, and he's grabbed that brilliantly. Testing line from Hazlewood but Bavuma has twice in this Test looked like a man severely out of middle practice 201/594.1 round the wicket, advancing down the pitch, tries to drive, and edges through to the keeper! De Kock cramped himself for room in the end there, but he's played a fine hand, and put South Africa in a very dominant position 324/7105.4 Rabada charges down, beaten in the flight - that's a simple stumping for Paine! Lyon snares his 300th Test wicket, following Morne Morkel to the mark in the same match. Big ole yahoo from Rabada and although he made an attempt to get back, it was in vain 354/8109.6 gone, skied to long-on! Ugly swipe from Maharaj, running down and trying to put the hurt on the spinner, instead he spoons a steepler to Pat Cummins, who steadies himself and takes a good catch 362/9112.2 no fifty for Morkel today, Hazlewood bounces him out! Head-hunting bumper, 141kph and Morkel can only punch it up into the air, looping gently to gully - meaning Australia have been set 430 to win 373/10Extras8 (b 4, lb 1, nb 1, w 2)TOTAL373 all out (112.2 Overs, RR: 3.32, 492 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Dean Elgar, 9.1 ov), 2-104 (Hashim Amla, 33.5 ov), 3-151 (Aiden Markram, 47.4 ov), 4-196 (Faf du Plessis, 60.2 ov), 5-201 (Temba Bavuma, 61.1 ov), 6-269 (AB de Villiers, 82.6 ov), 7-324 (Quinton de Kock, 94.1 ov), 8-354 (Kagiso Rabada, 105.4 ov), 9-362 (Keshav Maharaj, 109.6 ov), 10-373 (Morne Morkel, 112.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MA Starc 23 5 98 1 4.26 0 1 JR Hazlewood 25.2 5 69 3 2.72 0 0 PJ Cummins 27 5 67 3 2.48 2 0 NM Lyon 31 2 102 3 3.29 0 0 SPD Smith 1 0 6 0 6.00 0 0 MR Marsh 5 0 26 0 5.20 0 0
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR20.1 oh, this is going to be a run-out... Direct hit from Faf and Bancroft is miles short! Bancroft has been strung up again, this time by Warner calling for a suicidal single into the covers, he would have been struggling even without du Plessis' lightning response! Swooped and threw in one motion, de Kock was leaning forwards but just opened his arms and allowed the ball to hit the stumps 57/123.1 another one gone, Rabada rips out Warner again! Excellent low take by de Villiers, he points to Rabada, who opens his arms and looks to the sky... No need to say anything. He rather guided that to third slip, stood a little wide, but SA won't care how they come 59/224.1 tossed up, draws him out... and a thick edge goes to slip! Three in a blink for SA! Maharaj gets the wicket he so nearly had in his previous over, a nicely flighted bit of cheese followed by the mousetrap snapping shut on Khawaja 59/329.3 now Smith's out, a carbon copy dismissal - steered to gully again! Back of a length and climbing as Smith threw the hands, a thick outside edge flew with laser-guided precision into Elgar's midriff! The deposed captain is dismissed, Australia are five down and Newlands is drinking it all in! 75/524.2 gottim, brilliantly caught at forward short leg! Maharaj goes charging off, he's on a hat-trick, Australia are four down and Newlands is in foment! Spinning in and jabbed away off his glove, the ball looped to Markram's right and he stuck out a golden paw to take the catch as he crashed to earth! 59/433.1 another one bites the dust! A massive energetic hook, a total miscue, and de Villiers at third slip is sufficiently alert to dive forward and scoop a low chance, while the rest of the fielders would probably have been looking to midwicket! This is a complete meltdown of Australian resolve now. Their chances of on-field redemption were slim anyway, but this is grim for them now 86/633.2 fierce and fast, and Morkel is on a hat-trick! Or is it? Cummins has reviewed, he thinks that has come off his wrist, not his glove, but it was savagely short and leapt like a cobra into his flinching defensive hop. Now then, that looks to have hit his wristband, which might technically make it glove... which might definitely confirm it is out! Yep, off he goes! 86/735.6 pop-a-doodle-do... easy pickings for short leg! Trademark Morkel length, angling in, exploding off the deck, pounding the bat, and looping into Markram's hands under the lid! 94/836.5 forward, and tapped into the covers, a crazy sharp single, to Bavuma of all people, and blow me down, that's out! A fast flat shy, a fine gather from de Kock, and Lyon is run out without facing a ball! 94/939.4 uppercut, but straight to fly slip! Well positioned, Philander rushed around to pocket the chance and give Morne Morkel a hugely deserved five-for in what might yet be his final Test appearance! 107/10Extras4 (b 4)TOTAL107 all out (39.4 Overs, RR: 2.69, 187 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Cameron Bancroft, 20.1 ov), 2-59 (David Warner, 23.1 ov), 3-59 (Usman Khawaja, 24.1 ov), 4-59 (Shaun Marsh, 24.2 ov), 5-75 (Steven Smith, 29.3 ov), 6-86 (Mitchell Marsh, 33.1 ov), 7-86 (Pat Cummins, 33.2 ov), 8-94 (Mitchell Starc, 35.6 ov), 9-94 (Nathan Lyon, 36.5 ov), 10-107 (Josh Hazlewood, 39.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB K Rabada 12 6 31 1 2.58 0 0 VD Philander 6 2 17 0 2.83 0 0 M Morkel 9.4 3 23 5 2.37 0 0 KA Maharaj 12 2 32 2 2.66 0 0
Match Details
Toss
South Africa , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Series result
South Africa led the 4-match series 2-1
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30
Match days
22,23,24,25 March 2018 (5-day match)
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- Thu, 22 Mar - day 1 - South Africa 1st innings 266/8 (D Elgar 121*, K Rabada 6*, 87 ov)
- Fri, 23 Mar - day 2 - Australia 1st innings 245/9 (TD Paine 33*, JR Hazlewood 1*, 67 ov)
- Sat, 24 Mar - day 3 - South Africa 2nd innings 238/5 (AB de Villiers 51*, Q de Kock 29*, 72 ov)
- Sun, 25 Mar - day 4 - Australia 2nd innings 107 (39.4 ov) - end of match
Match Notes
- Tim Paine will replace Steve Smith as a captain for the remainder of the match.
- South Africa: 250 runs in 73.5 overs (443 balls), Extras 4
- 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 76 balls (AB de Villiers 13, Q de Kock 38, Ex 0)
- New ball taken at 81.1 overs
- Q de Kock: 50 off 67 balls (7 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Drinks: South Africa - 297/6 in 87.0 overs (Q de Kock 60, VD Philander 15)
- South Africa: 300 runs in 89.1 overs (536 balls), Extras 5
- 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 59 balls (Q de Kock 14, VD Philander 34, Ex 2)
- Lunch: South Africa - 333/7 in 100.0 overs (VD Philander 39, K Rabada 4)
- South Africa: 350 runs in 104.5 overs (630 balls), Extras 8
- VD Philander: 50 off 78 balls (6 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Innings Break: South Africa - 373/10 in 112.2 overs (VD Philander 52)
- Australia 2nd innings
- Tea: Australia - 47/0 in 16.0 overs (CT Bancroft 22, DA Warner 25)
- Australia: 50 runs in 17.3 overs (105 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 105 balls (CT Bancroft 26, DA Warner 27, Ex 0)
- Drinks: Australia - 75/5 in 29.3 overs (MR Marsh 9)
- Over 33.2: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - NJ Llong, Batsman - PJ Cummins (Struck down)
- Over 38.2: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - RK Illingworth, Batsman - TD Paine (Upheld)
- Australia: 100 runs in 39.1 overs (235 balls), Extras 0
- Australia: 250 runs in 67.6 overs (412 balls), Extras 10
- Innings Break: Australia - 255/10 in 69.5 overs (TD Paine 34)
- South Africa 2nd innings
- Drinks: South Africa - 30/1 in 12.0 overs (AK Markram 15, HM Amla 1)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 19.3 overs (117 balls), Extras 0
- Lunch: South Africa - 65/1 in 22.0 overs (AK Markram 36, HM Amla 15)
- Over 23.6: Review by South Africa (Batting), Umpire - NJ Llong, Batsman - HM Amla (Upheld)
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 99 balls (AK Markram 24, HM Amla 24, Ex 4)
- AK Markram: 50 off 91 balls (5 x 4, 1 x 6)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 31.3 overs (189 balls), Extras 4
- Drinks: South Africa - 110/2 in 36.0 overs (AK Markram 55, AB de Villiers 6)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 47.2 overs (284 balls), Extras 4
- Tea: South Africa - 151/3 in 48.0 overs (AB de Villiers 18, F du Plessis 0)
- Over 60.2: Review by Australia (Bowling), Umpire - RK Illingworth, Batsman - F du Plessis (Upheld)
- South Africa: 200 runs in 60.4 overs (364 balls), Extras 4
- Drinks: South Africa - 203/5 in 63.0 overs (AB de Villiers 43, Q de Kock 2)
- AB de Villiers: 50 off 92 balls (6 x 4, 1 x 6)
- Bad Light: South Africa - 238/5 in 72.0 overs (AB de Villiers 51, Q de Kock 29)
- End Of Day: South Africa - 238/5 in 72.0 overs (AB de Villiers 51, Q de Kock 29)
- South Africa: 300 runs in 94.4 overs (571 balls), Extras 29
- 9th Wicket: 50 runs in 78 balls (D Elgar 23, K Rabada 22, Ex 5)
- Innings Break: South Africa - 311/10 in 97.5 overs (D Elgar 141)
- Australia 1st innings
- Over 6.3: Review by South Africa (Bowling), Umpire - RK Illingworth, Batsman - UT Khawaja (Struck down)
- Australia: 50 runs in 8.2 overs (51 balls), Extras 3
- Lunch: Australia - 67/2 in 12.0 overs (CT Bancroft 22, SPD Smith 4)
- Australia: 100 runs in 22.2 overs (137 balls), Extras 7
- CT Bancroft: 50 off 59 balls (9 x 4)
- Drinks: Australia - 113/3 in 25.0 overs (CT Bancroft 56, SE Marsh 10)
- 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 73 balls (CT Bancroft 35, SE Marsh 15, Ex 1)
- Australia: 150 runs in 33.5 overs (206 balls), Extras 7
- Tea: Australia - 150/5 in 37.4 overs (MR Marsh 0)
- Over 37.4: Review by Australia (Batting), Umpire - NJ Llong, Batsman - CT Bancroft (Struck down)
- Drinks: Australia - 183/8 in 53.3 overs (TD Paine 11, NM Lyon 8)
- Australia: 200 runs in 57.3 overs (349 balls), Extras 10
- 9th Wicket: 50 runs in 52 balls (TD Paine 14, NM Lyon 38, Ex 0)
- Bad Light: Australia - 245/9 in 67.0 overs (TD Paine 33, JR Hazlewood 1)
- End Of Day: Australia - 245/9 in 67.0 overs (TD Paine 33, JR Hazlewood 1)
- South Africa 1st innings
- Drinks: South Africa - 31/1 in 15.0 overs (D Elgar 11, HM Amla 17)
- South Africa: 50 runs in 20.1 overs (121 balls), Extras 3
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 109 balls (D Elgar 21, HM Amla 29, Ex 2)
- Lunch: South Africa - 75/1 in 28.0 overs (D Elgar 40, HM Amla 31)
- D Elgar: 50 off 97 balls (7 x 4)
- South Africa: 100 runs in 34.1 overs (205 balls), Extras 9
- Drinks: South Africa - 126/2 in 41.0 overs (D Elgar 63, AB de Villiers 22)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 70 balls (D Elgar 25, AB de Villiers 27, Ex 1)
- South Africa: 150 runs in 44.3 overs (268 balls), Extras 10
- Tea: South Africa - 185/2 in 55.0 overs (D Elgar 91, AB de Villiers 46)
- 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 150 balls (D Elgar 44, AB de Villiers 48, Ex 8)
- D Elgar: 100 off 178 balls (16 x 4, 1 x 6)
- South Africa: 200 runs in 58.6 overs (357 balls), Extras 18
- AB de Villiers: 50 off 80 balls (8 x 4)
- Drinks: South Africa - 236/5 in 70.3 overs (D Elgar 111)
- South Africa: 250 runs in 78.3 overs (474 balls), Extras 24
- New ball taken at 86.1 overs
- Bad Light: South Africa - 266/8 in 87.0 overs (D Elgar 121, K Rabada 6)
- End Of Day: South Africa - 266/8 in 87.0 overs (D Elgar 121, K Rabada 6)
AUS tour of SA 2017-18 News
Five years after Sandpapergate, what has changed in Australian cricket?
The amount of reverse swing on offer down under has dropped significantly, and so has the amount of sledging
Cameron Bancroft: 'Self-explanatory' that bowlers were aware of ball-tampering tactics in Newlands Test
CA says that the governing body is still open to hearing and investigating any new information about the Newlands incident
A satisfying end to a dramatic summer
From a new coach to a series win against Australia, South Africa endured a lot, but among their takeaways are consistency and success
Smith, Warner sanctions will restore cricket's 'battered' image - Morgan
Eoin Morgan hopes the sanctions imposed on Steve Smith and David Warner will have served to restore the reputation of a game he feels has been "battered"
How South Africa came back from the Durban setback
Defeated in the first Test in Durban, South Africa shut out the noise and put in the hard work necessary to achieve a historic victory against Australia