Australia 466 and 207 v South Africa 220 and 178-2
Dates: 26 February-2 March Start time: 0830 GMT
Coverage: Scorecard and reports on BBC Sport website. Live on Sky Sports
Match scorecard
 Graeme Smith was in fine form before falling for 69
|
South Africa need a further 276 runs on the final day to win the first Test against Australia after reaching 178-2 at stumps on day four in Johannesburg.
The hosts, chasing a world record 454 for victory, lost Neil McKenzie (35) and skipper Graeme Smith (69).
But Hashim Amla (43) and Jacques Kallis (26) remained unbeaten at the close.
Earlier, Kallis struck three times in six balls as Australia collapsed from 99-1 to 207 all out in their second innings, despite Phillip Hughes' 75.
South Africa will go into the final day boosted by the knowledge that they scored 414-4 - the second-biggest successful pursuit in Tests - to win the first Test against Australia in Perth in December.
But they will have to beat the record for the highest chase, which was set by West Indies in 2003 and stands at 418.
Smith's side will have a maximum of 98 overs to face on Monday but will also have to ensure they protect the eight wickets they have left on a pitch that is starting to show variations in bounce.
All-rounder Kallis brought his side back into the match as South Africa claimed eight wickets in the morning session as Australia slumped.
Kallis, who had been restricted to bowling just eight overs in the first innings, removed Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey with successive deliveries in his first over.
He then took a sharp catch to dismiss Michael Clarke in the next over off spinner Paul Harris.
Kallis saw off Marcus North with a ball that kept low and bowled the Test debutant.
Phillip Hughes, who scored a duck in his first Test innings, made a gutsy 75 before Harris had him brilliantly caught at leg-slip by AB de Villiers.
No comments:
Post a Comment