South Africa vs Australia 2018: 4th Test, Day 3, Talking points
Resuming their innings at 110/6, Australia scored 221 as Pat Cummins and Tim Paine registered fifties. Keshav Maharaj, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada shared three wickets each while Morne Morkel who suffered a side strain mid-way through the first session picked up the other wicket.
South Africa batted again and Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis got starts as South Africa reached 134/3 at the end of the third day’s play. Ab de Villiers had a rare failure as he was dismissed for just 6 runs. However, the lead has gone past 400 and South Africa are in total control of this Test match.
#5 Tim Paine and Pat Cummins put on a fighting stand
When the day started, Australia were 110/6 and were staring down the barrel. Skipper Tim Paine and Pat Cummins were at the crease. Tim Paine had rescued Australia on a few occasions this summer, but this was going to be difficult. All those rescue acts had come while Australia batted first. Here, Australia were 378 runs behind and the pressure was very different.
Moreover, he suffered a hairline fracture but continued batting. He fought hard along with Cummins. They frustrated the South African bowlers as they scored at a good clip. In fact, Cummins was the main contributor to the 99-run partnership.
Paine attacked Maharaj and didn’t allow the left-arm spinner to settle. Cummins also found the boundary with ease. He too scored a couple of fours and a six in one over against Maharaj.
But the defiant partnership was brought to an end right after Cummins got to his fifty. Maharaj who was taken for runs had the final laugh as he dismissed the Aussie with a quick LBW which was given out on review.