Australia vs South Africa 2nd Test: Day 4 – Summary and Analysis

1. On Day 3 South Africa were right on top and Australia were looking to extend their lead of 41 runs and give their opponents a challenging target. South Africa on the other hand, had secured a top position on Day 2 all thanks to their fast bowlers Rabada, Ngidi and Philander.
2. Australian batsmen, Tim Paine and Mitchell Marsh who had remained unbeaten from the previous day walked out on the field to give Australia a handsome lead. South African team led by their captain Faf Du Plessis came into the ground knowing they had the upper hand in this match and if they wanted they could finish this match within no time.
3. Play started at 10.00 local time as both teams looked to outperform the other in this match. Mitchell Marsh who was unbeaten on 39 continued to play his shots but not for much long as South Africa’s spearhead Rabada went through his defenses to shatter his stumps on the ground.
4. This wicket gave South Africa an opening to the tail-enders however they knew that the job was not yet done as Australian bowlers have a great temperament to bat throughout the innings. In walked PJ Cummins who looked to support his partner Tim Paine from the other end. But, Rabada was in no mood of holding back anything as he forced the Cummins to gifting his wicket to gully where de Bruyn completed the catch comfortably.
5. Mitchell Starc walked in the middle but after playing only ten balls he made the grave mistake of playing the fiery Rabada inside the line that resulted him edging out to de Kock who accepted the catch happily.
6. This wicket that Rabada took saved 30-40 runs as Starc was surely going to go all out and rain fours and sixes like he did in the previous tests but his wicket placed South Africa firmly in the driving seat.
7. After that it was only a matter of time before the South African bowlers cleaned up the tail. Lungi Ngidi got rid of Nathan Lyon and Maharaj took the wicket of Hazelwood who scored only 5 and 17 runs respectively. The Australian batsmen, Tim Paine remained unbeaten on the other end and scored a gritty 28* off 50 balls but could only watch the tail enders fall before his eyes as Australia set a target of only 101 runs for its hosts.
8. It was time for Australia to show their bowling skills and despite setting a low total for the South Africans, they were still aggressive in their approach as they looked to attack the South African batsmen and get them out in any way possible.
9. The South African openers, Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram also showed intent as they shared a 22 run partnership before Elgar gave a return catch to Nathan Lyon who took a superb catch to dismiss the opener Markram.

10. Australia needed quick wickets at this stage as this would bring them back in contention of winning this match which at this point was going pretty much in South Africa’s favor.
11. A wicket was produced by South Africa’s prize bowler Hazelwood who removed the opener Markram for 21. Then walked in the man in form AB De Villiers who had remained unbeaten at 126* in the 1st innings and given South Africa a handsome lead.
12. A light opening was being sensed by Australia as their bowlers searched for wickets but ABD and Amla shared a 49 run partnership to kick out Australia of this match. However, the Australian bowlers kept coming at these two batsmen and Amla finally nicked off to Cummins bowling. It was full and swinging away and Amla was nowhere in control of the drive. Du Plessis came out to join ABD in the middle as both looked to finish this match as soon as possible.
13. However, in the very next over much to the delight of Nathan Lyon and the Australians, ABD holed out to square leg where Bancroft completed the catch inches from the ground. 21 runs were now required and Australians were trying to make a miracle happen as de Bruyn and du Plessis had all the time in the world to chase down this total.
14. But, this test match had been in the firm grip of South Africa right from the start and they did not let it go as the batsmen chased down this score and South Africa won the test by 6 wickets.
15. Kagiso Rabada, 22 was awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant performance as he took 11 wickets in this test and completed his 4th ten wicket haul. This feat also brought him equal to Waqar Younis as the Pakistani legend had also picked up 4 ten wicket hauls before turning 23.

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