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Australia vs South Africa cricket live: First Test, day four at the WACA

Daniel Cherny
Australian skipper Steve Smith.
Australian skipper Steve Smith. Photo: Getty Images

STUMPS

Philander changed ends, and challenges Mitch Marsh in the last over of the day outside off.

But Marsh survives, for now.

And for once they exceed the minimum 90 overs inside the allocated six hours.

Australia reach stumps at 4-169, with Khawaja 58 and Marsh 15.

They need 539 to win.

Kagiso Rabada cracked this match open with three wicket, but David Warner's run out at the hands of Temba Bavuma was the big talking point after South Africa declared shortly after lunch.

Thanks for joining us today, Chris Barrett will be back tomorrow to bring you the day five action.

Chadd Sayers

Has 17 wickets already this Shield season and was on the fringe of the Australian Test team earlier this year.

Is he the answer later this summer?

Maharaj into the attack to replace Philander. Mitch Marsh is looking reasonably assured so far. This is a huge innings in the context of his career.

Rabada is only 21, and has barely been in Test cricket for a year. What an exciting young player he is.

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Marsh avoids a pair

He's off the mark with a three through cover off Philander.

Another wicket

Rabada gets his man. Voges edges one to de Kock and the veteran is on his way for one. Made him look silly to be honest. Brilliant bowling from Rabada. 4-146.

Mitch Marsh will be the saviour, right?

 

Rabada gets one jagging back in to Voges who plays and misses, but the ball bounces over the stumps and the appeal for LBW is turned down. The next ball also beats the bat. This is terrific bowling from the South African quick.

50 for Khawaja

It was a touch streaky, surviving a DRS decision on 0 and then dropped in his 30s by Amla, but Khawaja has a half-century, made off exactly 100 balls.

WICKET

Rabada strikes not long after tea as Smith goes flashing to a moving ball outside off, edging it into the hands of de Kock. Smith on his way for 34, and Australia fall deeper into trouble at 3-144.

Adam Voges is the new batsman.

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DRINKS

Australia survive the first hour after tea, having reached 2-134. Smith and Khawaja endured the odd nervous moment, with an LBW decision reviewed against Smith and Khawaja edging one to Amla who couldn't hang on.

DROPPED

Khawaja clips one from Rabada into the cordon where Amla dives to his right but can't complete the catch!

Another life for the Aussie No. 3!

It is an oddity, or perhaps part of the lunacy, of contemporary international cricket that South Africa, an ocean away from home, will have more players to choose from for the second Test match in Hobart than will their hosts.

Terrific analysis from Malcolm Knox.

Smith enters the 30s with a beautiful shot through point off Rabada. This Aussie partnership has found its groove. But the task remains mountainous.

Meanwhile it was noted on the ABC that it's been more than a decade since Australia last saved a Test by batting for more than a day, against England at OId Trafford in 2005.

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Rabada back into the attack

Replacing Maharaj, who took a bit of stick in his last over.

And another four later in the over. Fair downgrade on Dale Steyn...

Stephen Cook into the attack

He's a genuine part-timer, with just 10 first-class wickets to his name, and a couple of balls in Khawaja drives him to extra cover for four.

Earlier

Nathan Lyon turned in his worst Test bowling figures. Jon Pierik reports.

Duminy and Maharaj are continuing to do the grunt work. South Africa yet to introduce a fifth bowler. It would usually be Duminy himself, if not for Steyn's injury.

A rare boundary comes as Smith square drives Duminy for four.

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