Key occasions
twentieth over: South Africa 52-1 (Klaasen 20, Erwee 22) Nathan Lyon continues to wheel away to little impact. He is tossing the ball up and pinning Heinrich Klaasen deep within the crease however the first drop’s bat seems broad and his manner is completely unfussed. He sees off one other over and the group is getting stressed. They need contemporary blood and so they need it now.
nineteenth over: South Africa 51-1 (Klaasen 20, Erwee 21) South Africa are in cruise management right here, rotating the strike with ease clipping three after which two from Head’s benign spin. Their toes are transferring and so they’re on prime of any tried deception. Australia want a jumpstart. Surely a contemporary burst of Josh Hazlewood is on the breeze?
18th over: South Africa 48-1 (Klaasen 18, Erwee 20) We have spin from each ends now, with Lyon resuming for a sixth over. Erwee takes a single from the third however regardless of some jagging out of that darkish patch in entrance of the crease, the batters look snug taking part in with the spin. Lyon must elevate it a notch.
seventeenth over: South Africa 47-1 (Klaasen 18, Erwee 19) Cummins performs his wildcard! Travis Head has the ball and might want to higher his finest bowling of 4-10 if he’s to steer his facet to triumph. He tosses the ball up and tries just a few variations however Erwee and Klaasen are utilizing the crease properly, lunging ahead and skipping again to nullify any spin. They add a single and survive one other over.
sixteenth over: South Africa 46-1 (Klaasen 18, Erwee 18) It’s Nathan Lyon charged with the primary over of the final session. Lyon the Lionheart must get his line proper right here. There’s tough aplenty on this pitch however Sarel Erwee watches all six fly by untouched. Seems the South Africans is not going to chase victory, alas.
sixteenth over: South Africa 46-1 (Klaasen 17, Erwee 18) Final session of the ultimate Test. Here we go. The Sydney skies are sapphire blue. The gamers are rising from the Members Pavilion. We have 32 overs remaining and 9 wickets required for Australia to say an unlikely victory and a 3-0 collection sweep. Much will depend on this primary hour. Who will Pat Cummins throw the ball to?
TEA: South Africa 46 for 1
Australia have their breakthrough however nonetheless want 9 wickets to win from the 32 overs that stay. But with Klaasen and Erwee hanging robust the percentages of a draw are definitely shortening. Does Josh Hazlewood have petrol within the tank to return for an additional spell? Can Ashton Agar break his duck and declare a wicket in his Test return? Has wildcard spinner Travis Head a task to play? Will Nathan Lyon rise to GOATness on a crumbling Sydney pitch? Or will it fall to captain Pat Cummins to grab the day and provides victory a shake in entrance of his dwelling crowd. Grab a cuppa (or a coldie) and we’ll see you in a couple of minutes to seek out out.
fifteenth over: South Africa 46-1 (Klaasen 17, Erwee 18) Ashton Agar is definitely being given each probability to succeed. Cummins places the five 12 months Test exile on for a fifth over. Klaasen works him away for a single from the second however Erwee is pleased to faucet the 4 again. And that’ll be Tea, people,
14th over: South Africa 45-1 (Klaasen 17, Erwee 18) Nathan Lyon resumes to Klaasen who has 13 from 16 and is exhibiting refreshing intent to attain and never be pinned down. He takes three from Lyon’s second, taking a giant step again to show the stumps and minimize it near the rope. Lyon continues to assault. He has males on both facet of the batter and Smith at slip so there’s yawning chasms of area within the outfield to tempt the batters into having a hoik. Instead, from the fourth, Lyon delivers a cash ball, a floater that finds a divot, spits off the pitch and flies off the sting simply huge of Steve Smith sprawling to his proper. Great ball and virtually a superb catch by Smith. Hands on heads all spherical on the market. With 33 overs remaining within the day, Australia have to take each probability.
thirteenth over: South Africa 40-1 (Klaasen 13, Erwee 17) Interesting! We have a bowling substitute nevertheless it’s Ashton Agar not Travis Head approaching. There’s loads of rubble-like soil on the market to use. Can Agar discover it? He does with the primary! It finds the tough, grips arduous and jags again however Erwee digs it out simply in time. The third shoots by means of on the scorching clip of 90kph however Erwee isn’t tempted and lets it go exterior off. The fifth from Agar is flat and drops quick. Erwee flat bats it, and the sixth, away with none hassle
twelfth over: South Africa 40-1 (Klaasen 13, Erwee 17) Lyon grinds away however up to now so little. Although he’s attacking with each supply and couldn’t give two hoots about leaking boundaries, he’s at present bowling too straight and with too little drift. The gate gained’t open that method, GOAT. Klaasen takes a 4 with a sweetly timed drive from the fifth supply. Hm. Might be time to present Travis a go?
eleventh over: South Africa 36-1 (Klaasen 9, Erwee 17) Looking each inch the picture of Atlas, Pat Cummins’ shoulders will once more bear the load of delivering victory. He is rolling into his fourth over and has delivered the minimize the pinnacle of the snake by scalping Dean Elgar but once more. But Australia want one other 9 wickets and time is operating out. Barring any late heroics, we should assume the Ashton Agar Experiment has flopped and that Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon and maybe Head are the wicket-takers. Klaasen clips three from the over to additional destroy the neat symmetry of the 1 for 1 Cummins had eight balls in the past.
tenth over: South Africa 33-1 (Klaasen 6, Erwee 17) Lyon delivers a maiden however containment gained’t minimize it right here. He must bear his fangs and scalp this Proteas top-order. Time to remind the world why in 2015, he was nicknamed “GOAT”. (That was the 12 months Lyon grew to become Australia’s most profitable Test offspinner of all time, passing Hugh Trumble’s tally of 141 wickets).
ninth over: South Africa 33-1 (Klaasen 6, Erwee 17) That was a captain’s dismissal in each sense. Skipper to skipper. But as soon as extra, Cummins dismantles his rival with a deliberate transfer Elgar will need to have identified was coming however couldn’t resist. Poor self-discipline from a person in his 81st Test. Questions will likely be requested again dwelling. At 35 years of age, Elgar’s captaincy profession hangs by a thread. And his batting report, for all of the grit of yore, nonetheless reads 5000 runs on the lower than elite common of 38. Perhaps new batter Klaasen has the solutions. He swats Cummins for a 4 to get his innings kickstarted.
WICKET! Elgar c Carey b Cummins 10, South Africa 27-1
Cummins has finished it once more and it’s a mirror picture of Elgar’s earlier 4 dismissals this collection. A quick ball down leg facet which Elgar chases, turning the shoulder too rapidly and exposing the glove which kisses the tablet and sails serenely into the gloves of Carey. An sad finish to an sad tour for the Proteas captain, undone but once more by his reverse quantity.
eighth over: South Africa 27-0 (Elgar 10, Erwee 17) Australia have a mountain to climb – 10 wickets in 25 overs – so that they flip to the GOAT. Nathan Lyon has had troubles of his personal bowling Australia to victory on the ultimate day however he’ll be eager to ship historical past and a warning to the highly effective Indian batting lineup forward of Australia’s tour to the subcontinent beginning February 16 in Nagpur. He leaks a single to Elgar on this opening over however there’ll be possibilities aplenty to come back.
seventh over: South Africa 26-0 (Elgar 9, Erwee 17) Ball after ball, over after over, Pat Cummins is nagging at Dean Elgar. He sends a few tempters down the road of off stump then digs the third briefly the place Elgar hops and squirts it away. But he can’t get off strike and whereas runs are unimportant to the South Africans, the strain is constructing. Finally, Elgar unpins himself from the strike zone with a hasty single. We have 25 overs remaining and the Proteas are 194 runs in arrears.
sixth over: South Africa 25-0 (Elgar 8, Erwee 17) Good present of religion in Agar by Cummins as he begins his third over. With 0-17 his figures are already unflattering however he’s been picked for a cause and now’s the time to point out why. Bowling over the wicket to Erwee he’s concentrating on a line exterior off, bowling full and attempting for a late nip away. He doesn’t get it, however does ship a maiden. Might purchase him one other over however Australia want a breakthrough. Who will ship it?
fifth over: South Africa 25-0 (Elgar 8, Erwee 17) Cometh the hour, cometh the Cummins. The skipper has requested Josh Hazlewood to chill his heels awhile so he can take the ball. Very first supply he will get by means of the defences of Dean Elgar. Huge attraction however the onfield choice will not be out. It was straight sufficient however possibly too excessive. Cummins didn’t look completely satisfied however the whispers in his ear from teammates nearer in tempted him to refer the choice. It’s a foul referral ultimately – the ball is definitely in line however flying excessive. Cummins goes once more and this time goals for the armpit of the Proteas captain. Elgar hates it, and as unconvincingly as he has all collection, sends a ball fizzing off the sting however simply in need of Labuschagne at foolish mid off. Terrible absence of footwork from Elgar. He seems terrible when that ball jags again at him.
4th over: South Africa 25-0 (Elgar 8, Erwee 17) Agar in hassle right here! He’s lobbed up a full bunger to open his second over then an extended hop on his fourth, each dispatched to rope by Sarel Erwee. The 29-year-old must form up or Cummkins will ship him out and switch to the tweak of Lyon and Head as an alternative.
third over: South Africa 17-0 (Elgar 8, Erwee 13) That was shut! Elgar pushed at Hazlewood’s second ball and it skythed previous the shoulder of the bat to gasps all spherical. The Bendemeer Bullet is bending the ball again to the left-handed Proteas skipper, harnessing the reverse swing we noticed indicators of earlier within the day. Elgar, so wretchedly off form as each opener and chief, will likely be sweating bullets of his personal right here. It exhibits on the ultimate supply as pushes out and swishes arduous at a sooner ball and it catches the sting, simply avoiding the leap of Steve Smith at slip and racing away to the boundary. A wry smile from Hazlewood and aid for Elgar. For now.
2nd over: South Africa 13-0 (Elgar 4, Erwee 9) Attacking captaincy by Cummins to introduce Agar so early. He was stable however un spectacular within the first innings, bowling a short-form line when he wanted to toss it up for Test match mode. Sure sufficient he delivers a combined bag, a close to probability at slip from the second supply earlier than Erwee cuts him to the boundary twice to shut the over. He’ll get one other probability however wants to attract blood if Cummins is to take care of confidence.
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Elgar 3, Erwee 1) It’ll be first innings hero Josh Hazlewood opening the second innings salvo. He’ll be eager to construct on his 4 scalps within the first dig and, like his previous NSW comrade Cummins, has a fame as a last-day destroyer. However, Erwee works him for single off the primary and Dean Elgar takes a two and a single from the fifth and sixth to interrupt their geese and get us began. Interestingly, Ashton Agar will kick off on the different finish.
Thanks Geoff. An thrilling afternoon awaits. News is that Pat Cummins has certainly enforced the follow-on. Australia’s bowlers will load up on electrolytes and gorge themselves on glucose-enriched snakes within the break. Can they rattle by means of the Proteas batsman a second time at present? Players are set to take the sphere now underneath vivid blue Sydney skies so let’s get able to rumble!
Geoff Lemon
Righto, that’s me finished. For the day, the Test, the collection, and the season. It has been a pleasure because it all the time is sharing the cricket with you from round Australia. There will likely be extra quickly sufficient, don’t you are worried.
Angus Fontaine has the reins till the shut.
South Africa all out 255
107.6 overs: South Africa 255-10 (Nortje 0) That’s 21 runs in need of the follow-on, which Australia will certainly implement. We’ll have 47 overs remaining after the change of innings. 10 wickets in 47 overs. Possible, with this batting line-up, however a few of the bowlers will likely be getting weary. Hazlewood and Cummins have bowled 23 overs, Lyon 40 – sure, a few of that was yesterday. Agar has bowled 14 ineffective overs, that choice has not borne fruit. Maybe he’s the final-innings destroyer. Doubt he’ll be given a lot of the work.
WICKET! Rabada c & b Lyon 3, South Africa 255-10
Well, he was practically bowled first ball of that over. Lyon comes across the wicket to the left-handed Rabada, who leaves a ball that misses off stump by a whisker. He practically Erweed himself. But he tries to drive a run on the finish of the over to maintain strike, lofts the shot, Lyon hurls himself throughout, and Nortje would have been entitled to face his floor and get in Lyon’s method, however he instinctively jumps away from the collision. Lyon most likely would take the catch anyway, however that’s fascinating.
107th over: South Africa 255-9 (Rabada 3) Last ball of the over when Harmer falls. So Nortje is available in on the non-striker’s finish, and so they’re 21 away from the follow-on.
WICKET! Harmer b Hazlewood 47, South Africa 255-9
Maybe Rabada ought to have been defending Harmer! He sees the size full sufficient to play a really circumspect drive to cowl, placing Harmer on strike. Hazlewood strikes again over the wicket to the right-handed Harmer. Yorker, midwicket. Yorker, mid off. Full size, tailing in, and it takes the within fringe of his defensive shot again onto the stumps. Up goes Hazlewood! But what an effort from Harmer, 165 balls he confronted and has strongly influenced this match.
106th over: South Africa 254-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 2) Umpire’s name once more! Maybe Nathan Lyon ought to transfer away from Umpire Reiffel’s finish. Again he turns it in the direction of the stumps. This time Harmer has moved throughout and is hit on the again leg, however consistent with center relatively than off. So once more, it’s clipping or not clipping leg stump, relying on the unique umpiring choice. If Reiffel offers considered one of these, it’s going to stay out.
a hundred and fifth over: South Africa 254-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 2) Hazlewood continues. Rabada hasn’t swung the bat but. Goes underneath a bouncer, fences at a very good size blocks a yorker. Endures.
104th over: South Africa 254-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 2) Nearly the ninth! Australia evaluation after Lyon hits Harmer on the pad. Hitting simply consistent with off stump, however the width of his line and the sharpness of flip implies that something hitting in line might be lacking leg stump. This one is umpire’s name. Huge groan from the group. No run from the over.
103rd over: South Africa 254-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 2) Also the way in which Hazlewood is bowling, Harmer has the perfect probability to outlive him and must be attempting to face most of his bowling. Rabada runs a ball off the sting however Khawaja stops it properly within the gully. A number of balls later, he’s dropped! Doesn’t know a lot concerning the ball, vanguard to a sq. midwicket, and Agar has to stretch as much as his left however will get each fingers to it, and it wasn’t travelling on the pace of sunshine. That’s a correct miss, not like a few of the ones off the spinners. Rabada off the mark. Follow-on is 22 away.
102nd over: South Africa 252-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 0) Harmer simply settles in to see off the Cummins over. Not too certain about this, I believe he nonetheless must look to attain if potential. Maybe he is aware of that Rabada will throw the bat anyway, so he may as properly simply make certain he’s nonetheless there if one other wicket falls.
a hundred and first over: South Africa 252-8 (Harmer 47, Rabada 0) Here comes Rabada, 24 runs from the follow-on. Can bat, has been very unfastened this collection although. Hazlewood across the wicket to the left-hander, who defends his first couple of balls to complete the over.
WICKET! Maharaj lbw Hazlewood 53, South Africa 252-8
Hazlewood from the Paddington finish, and he sears one previous the surface edge. Two slips and some extent greater than a gully, 4 others in a hoop subject, two out on the hook. Not the form of subject that means a really robust plan for get Maharaj out. But Hazlewood does it with particular person high quality. A touch of reverse, in on the stumps, smashing the knee roll simply earlier than Maharaj can squeeze his bat down on it. Pad first, inward motion, and it’s hitting the highest of center stump when Maharaj critiques.
Half century! Keshav Maharaj 52 from 74 balls
a hundredth over: South Africa 252-7 (Harmer 47, Maharaj 53) An excellent supply from Cummins, squares him up and takes the sting, however the batter will get three runs and a half century. It has been a depressing tour for Maharaj up to now however right here’s a cause to smile on the finish of it. Harmer clips away a run stylishly to midwicket. Carey fumbles a take off the pad and offers away a leg bye. It’s additionally a no ball, fractionally, for overstepping. His seventh ball is a bouncer, it sits up and Maharaj swats a single. Eight from the over, 24 wanted for the follow-on.
One final burst for Australia. Cummins with the ball. Only 58 overs remaining. If they don’t get this innings wrapped up inside 10 of these, I’d say it’s gone.
The solar is shining strongly, the day is heat, and we’re able to do some cricketing within the afternoon session. Shall we?
Lunch – South Africa 244 for 7
What a session for South Africa, as Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj have gone a good distance in the direction of making certain a draw. Work to do but, after all, however they’re solely 32 runs from avoiding the follow-on, and even when three wickets fall earlier than that point, they’ve bitten off and chewed up an prolonged first session, leaving solely two classes to play.
One wicket in two and a half hours this morning, that of Marco Jansen, and a few miles into the legs of the Australian bowlers. We’ll be again after lunch.
99th over: South Africa 244-7 (Harmer 45, Maharaj 49) Steve Smith with the final over earlier than lunch, and lands all of them however Harmer defends them away.
98th over: South Africa 244-7 (Harmer 45, Maharaj 49) A giant slog throughout the road from Maharaj, smears one by means of midwicket from Lyon. Harmer ranges up their scores once more with a single, 45 and 45. Inside edge into pad has the Australians yelping, however no bone. Then Maharaj strains one up, over Lyon’s head for 4! The bowler sprang as much as attempt to get the catch, however not tall sufficient.
97th over: South Africa 238-7 (Harmer 44, Maharaj 44) Harmer wakes from his slumber, driving a pair from Agar down the bottom. Another over goes by.
96th over: South Africa 235-7 (Harmer 42, Maharaj 43) His identify means King, and he’s batting like one now. Maharaj goes again and thumps a brief ball from Head over the midwicket rope for six!
ninety fifth over: South Africa 227-7 (Harmer 41, Maharaj 36) Agar bowling left-arm over the wicket to Maharaj and Harmer, who’re principally pleased to kick the ball away. Can’t be leg earlier than wicket if it pitches exterior leg stump. 49 from the follow-on.
94th over: South Africa 225-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 35) Five penalty runs! Things are slipping for Australia. Getting antsy for a breakthrough, they convey Head again on, and he will get a ball to skid by means of Harmer nevertheless it beats Carey as properly. Hits the fielding helmet sitting behind the keeper and that’s five.
93rd over: South Africa 219-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 34) Agar is again on, twin spin, and Harmer defends out the over.
92nd over: South Africa 219-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 34) Yep, there he goes. Maharaj rapidly performs a minimize shot in opposition to Lyon for a pair, then onto the entrance foot and slams a drive down the bottom for 4. Shorter from Lyon, backs away and carves one other 4! Backward of level that point. 57 runs to the follow-on.
91st over: South Africa 209-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 24) A single off the Cummins over, so now it’ll be Maharaj going through Lyon, which might get fascinating. The fielders attempting to get the ball reversing by throwing it in on the bounce.
ninetieth over: South Africa 208-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 23) Another over of Lyon working away at Harmer, who isn’t trying something past a defensive shot on the spinner.
89th over: South Africa 208-7 (Harmer 40, Maharaj 23) Cummins again for Hazlewood, and he’s not getting a lot assist from the floor which is probably why he retains throwing within the quick ball. Maharaj is assembly it fairly properly now with evasion as an alternative of taking part in photographs each time.
88th over: South Africa 206-7 (Harmer 39, Maharaj 23) Harmer in the meantime retains on quietly doing his factor on the different finish. Defending Lyon, thick inside edge however with mushy fingers alongside the bottom. Walking throughout his stumps. No run from the over.
87th over: South Africa 206-7 (Harmer 39, Maharaj 23) Keeps discovering the center of the bat, even when he doesn’t beat the sphere. Nice back-foot punch from Maharaj for none, then one other pull shot for 2. Hazlewood will likely be getting a bit irritated with this fellow. South Africa have their highest rating of the collection, for what that’s price.
86th over: South Africa 204-7 (Harmer 39, Maharaj 21) Lyon replaces Cummins, hitting the pad of Maharaj in entrance. Probably excessive and taking place leg, fractionally. They don’t evaluation.
eighty fifth over: South Africa 202-7 (Harmer 38, Maharaj 20) Another pull shot timed properly however there’s safety again for Harmer, and Hazlewood concedes solely a pair from the over. The new ball hasn’t finished a lot for Australia’s quicks nevertheless it has boosted South Africa’s scoring. Maybe Lyon may have extra luck with it, some additional bounce.
84th over: South Africa 200-7 (Harmer 37, Maharaj 19) Cracked away by Maharaj! Short ball and he hooks Cummins for 4. Got onto it early and received loads of it. Cummins responds with tempo on the prime of off stump, then dips shorter and will get clobbered once more! Same outcome. The subsequent quick ball will not be midway up and in a position to be hit, it’s on the throat, and Maharaj leaps to fend it off. Then straying down the leg facet and brought for a single. Cummins bowled a superb spell yesterday however hasn’t received his rhythm but on this spell. 76 from avoiding the follow-on.
83rd over: South Africa 191-7 (Harmer 37, Maharaj 10) South Africa’s decrease order going alongside properly now. Less than an hour to lunch. Hazlewood goes full on the lookout for swing. Harmer drives it crisply by means of mid off for 4. Admittedly that was the ball after an outdoor edge for 4, nevertheless it was safely alongside the bottom. They’re 85 from the follow-on.
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