Sport

Live

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

Late wickets leave Australia needing miracle

Australia's chances of survival in the first Test hang by a thread, needing 370 runs to win on the final day, after the Proteas declared at 8/540 and claimed four wickets.

All over

Nathan Lyon is out lbw this time to Maharaj for eight and that's it, another South African victory in Perth. There were some good things for Australia in their second innings, principally Usman Khawaja's 97 and the resistance of Peter Nevill, who finishes unbeaten on 60. The Proteas have prevailed by 177 runs, however, and the Australian collapse in the first innings was a turning point from which they could not recover. The Australians will look to bounce back in Hobart from Saturday. Thanks for joining us.

Review

Nathan Lyon survives a review for lbw after a big shout from Bavuma. The minutes ticking down to the delayed tea break. Lyon is very capable of making the South Africans wait a while longer to wrap this up. 

WICKET!

They've finally broken the partnership and Bavuma is the man to do it with this first Test wicket. Hazlewood bows out for 29 with a leading edge that's caught by Dean Elgar. The Proteas needing only one more wicket to go 1-0 up in the series. Nathan Lyon walking to the crease and tea has been pushed back 30 minutes as a result of that last wicket.

Dropped!

Hazlewood put down by Amla at first slip. A very tough chance but they've been taken before. The tailender still chipping away with Nevill and is up to 27.

Fifty!

A gritty half-century for Peter Nevill as he and Josh Hazlewood look to take Australia to the tea break and force this match into a final session. He's been under the pump but the wicketkeeper will get a sizeable confidence boost out of this. It's also shown that if Mitch Marsh is still in the side, which he is going to be in Hobart, Nevill should really be batting at No.6.

Back to top

More drama at the WACA...

Hazlewood and Nevill continuing to frustrate the South Africans with this partnership, which is now worth 53. Also frustrated will be the newspaper journos in Perth, whose first-edition deadline is looming. Pretty safe to punt on an Australian defeat, you'd think, but you never know...

Nevill survives a near run-out with that man Bavuma, he of the extraordinary dismissal of David Warner on Sunday, runs to the stumps and knocks a throw from Maharaj onto the bails. Nevill was racing through for a quick single but was safely home.

All eyes to turn to Hobart now and while Australia's 12 is already settled for better or worse the South Africans must replace Dale Steyn. Morne Morkel the obvious choice but Michael Clarke is talking up Kyle Abbott in commentary, arguing he is deceptively quick.

Back to top

Josh Hazlewood with a boundary off Philander that Joe Mennie would be proud of. Not much footwork to speak of but in the circumstances he'll take it.

A teaser. One of our guys in Perth, Jon Pierik, is working as we speak on his player ratings for the first Test. It could be ugly reading - for one team anyway.

Poor Maharaj has slaved away for this South African team in this second innings and gone without a wicket as Rabada has cleaned up. From the half appeals every second or third delivery you can tell he's pretty keen to jag one of these last two.

WICKET!

Siddle is the latest to be trapped in front, and for something different it's not Rabada bowling but Philander, with a skidding delivery. The Victorian walking for 13. Two more wickets required by the Proteas.

Peter Nevill's resistance today has been admirable. It will be in vain of course as a result of earlier failures but its' a reminder of his fighting qualities with his spot in the side under scrutiny. Too often he's come to the middle with Australia already in the deep end.

Back to top

Cop that. Siddle drives Rabada through cover for a boundary. Fine shot. Kevin Pietersen suggesting it may be time for Faf du Plessis to take the new ball.

Steve Smith entering territory he'd rather not inhabit...

Given the comparisons with Wasim Askram that have been made about Kagiso Rabada today, here's a reminder of just how good the great man was.

 

Good point, well made...

We're back for the second (and final, surely) session of the fifth day at the WACA and the question is now simply how long Peter Nevill and the tail can hang on. Rabada, with 5-74, is straight back into the attack and could end up with some pretty scary figures here if he picks up where he left off before lunch.

Back to top
Advertisement