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By Christy Doran
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
9.00pmCummins breaks through; Proteas young gun ‘very disappointed’By Christy Doran and Daniel Brettig
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
Travis Head celebrates after Matthew Breetzke was caught on the fine leg boundary.AP Photo/Halden Krog8.56pm50 partnership up; Aussies under pressureBy Christy Doran
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
8.39pmSouth Africa win first hour; ‘Lyon’s the threat’By Christy Doran
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
8.22pmProteas frustrate AussiesBy Christy Doran
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.
Australia’s bowlers are being made to work hard early on day four.AP Photo/Halden KrogCooper 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
7.37pmLyon and Starc open up for AussiesBy Christy Doran
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
7.28pm‘Perfect’ pitch set up for Lyon; play underwayBy Christy Doran
Here we go, we’re ready for the first ball of day four. It’s another cracking day at Newlands. Blue skies, it’ll be low 20s and there’s a fresh breeze.
Nathan Lyon, who helped give Australia the momentum late on day three, taking the important wicket of captain Temba Bavuma in the penultimate over of play, is with the ball. He’s going to bowl the first over.
Graeme Smith says the bit of rough is a “perfect length” for Nathan Lyon, which has been helped by left-arm quicks Marco Jansen and Mitch Starc.
Nathan Lyon at Newlands.Getty ImagesSmith – the great South African opener and captain – believes 250 is par.
There’ll be so much responsibility on the right-hander Matthew Breetzke (19) and left-hander Ryan Rickleton (8), who is batting in the middle order but has a 259 to his name opening the batting. That double century came in Cape Town too.
7.13pmWaugh: Australia in the driver’s seatBy Christy Doran
South Africa are 40 runs in front, but they’re four wickets down. Who’s on top? Australia, according to Kerry O’Keeffe, Mark Waugh and David Warner. Here’s what they just said on Fox Cricket.
O’Keeffe: “It’s climax time, isn’t it? This is why we turn up (at Test cricket).
“I think Australia are well ahead in the game. The way the surface was being disturbed late yesterday, these six could fall over very quickly – and then it’s a walk to the line for Australia.”
Australian fans cheer on their side on day three.Getty ImagesWaugh wasn’t quite as emphatic, but still believes the tourists are favourites.
“Australia’s in the driver’s seat, aren’t they. I think South Africa need another 150-200 to be in the game. They’ve got a bit of batting to come, but I think Australia are in the driver’s seat.”
Warner: “I think it’s Australia. This first hour is a big one for Australia. It’ll be a balance of attacking and saving runs.”
7.04pmBrettig’s view from NewlandsBy
Australia have held another group huddle in the middle of Newlands ahead of a day that can deliver them the series over South Africa. While the tourists are ahead in the game, they will be wanting to get quick wickets this morning to minimise the dimensions of the chase they confront on a dry pitch that is starting to do plenty for spin and a little more for pace.
As South Africa spinner Simon Harmer said:
“The series is at 1-1, and it’s going to boil down to getting the ball in the right area the most amount of times. Just trying to keep it as simple as possible, understand the occasion, enjoy it, enjoy the pressure and hopefully do something spectacular.
“We’ve got two very capable batters at the crease and still a lot of batting to come, so there are going to be casualties along the way, and you just hope that little things start to go your way, and you can get to a score that will give us a chance to bowl them out in the fourth innings.
“It’s clichéd and simplistic, but the most important part of this game for us is the first hour tomorrow [Thursday] morning.”
7.00pmStarc reality: Aussies win if they don’t get in a spinBy
South Africa have warned Australia they may need to conquer a trial by spin to taste series success, after Mitchell Starc’s golden Cape Town Test gave the tourists a clear path to victory.
The veteran pace ace struck twice on Thursday afternoon to leave the Proteas 4-140 in their second innings, leading by just 40 after three days, with Australia now firmly on top.
Ryan Rickelton is given out lbw.Getty ImagesThe left-armer’s wickets came after he also took six on the opening day, setting up the match for Australia and giving them the best of the batting conditions.
But it’s the way the pitch acted with Starc and Nathan Lyon bowling late on day three that offered a hint of the challenges Australia could face while chasing in the series decider.
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