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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft, Mike Hytner & Adam Collins

South Africa win day four honours in first Test against Australia – as it happened

Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma
Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma appeal for an lbw decision against Steve Smith on day four of the first Test at the Waca. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

And finally, here’s the day four match report:

Close on day four - Australia 169-4 require another 370 runs to win

Another day to South Africa then who require just six more Australian wickets to wrap up the Test. Today was always likely to be a slog, and so it proved, first the Proteas slogging with bat in hand, pushing their already sizeable lead into gargantuan territory. The real question though was whether they had the artillery to take 10 Australian wickets with an attack shorn of Dale Steyn.

Kagiso Rabada went a considerable way to answering that question, taking three top order wickets to place his side firmly in the driving seat. The fourth home victim was David Warner who was run out by Temba Bavuma in one of the most brilliant pieces of fielding you could ever witness.

With Australia’s long tail the end could arrive in a hurry tomorrow but with only Rabada looking capable of forcing breakthroughs, if he can be seen off, it could be a longer day in the sun than South Africa might prefer.

We’ll be back tomorrow to round off the action. Thanks for joining us.

Day four belonged to South Africa as they closed in on a first Test victory.
Day four belonged to South Africa as they closed in on a first Test victory. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Updated

55th over: Australia 169-4 (Khawaja 58, Marsh 15) - Target 539

Vernon Philander with the last over of the fourth day, another belting one for South Africa. He’s bowling to Marsh and the field is right on top of the local lad. At 128 kph Philander is just too innocuous to force a mistake though, and the day ends without much fanfare.

54th over: Australia 168-4 (Khawaja 58, Marsh 14) - Target 539

Maharaj encouraging Khawaja to take the single, which he accepts after two deliveries. Much more aggressive field for Marsh - two short legs - and the allrounder gets an unplayable delivery first up that squirts at right angles off a crack. Apparently that deviated a metre - a metre! - after pitching. Marsh then escapes strike with a single.

Final over coming up.

Updated

53rd over: Australia 166-4 (Khawaja 57, Marsh 13) - Target 539

Philander switches ends to give the exceptional Rabada a spell. The senior paceman bowls a tempting line and length that Marsh tries to ignore but gets some luck with a thick edge scuttling along the ground through the gully region for four.

That’s the minimum overs for the day bowled, we’re now into extra time. Whodathunkit!?

52nd over: Australia 162-4 (Khawaja 57, Marsh 9) - Target 539

Maharaj back for a twirl, replacing Philander, who never found his groove in his last spell. Immediately he’s in the action too, engineering an inside edge from Marsh that flies just out of reach of short leg.

51st over: Australia 161-4 (Khawaja 57, Marsh 8) - Target 539

Rabada - eight overs into a scintillating spell - coming around the wicket to Khawaja, and he beats him twice in a row. The first nicks the shoulder of the bat and races for four between third slip and gully, the second is a play and miss. The rest of the over is probing without being threatening.

50th over: Australia 157-4 (Khawaja 53, Marsh 8) - Target 539

Philander has the ball wobbling away off the pitch and it’s too good for Marsh who does well not to nick it. The bowler tries to repeat the trick next delivery but Marsh adjusts well, leaving smartly. He keeps his head for another three deliveries, enabling to feast on a shorter wider one, carving it forcefully to the cover boundary.

If you missed the news earlier, Australia are sticking with the same 12 for Hobart, which has gone down like a lead balloon on social media.

49th over: Australia 153-4 (Khawaja 53, Marsh 4) - Target 539

Marsh to face trial by Rabada as the TV commentators ignore the young allrounder’s career statistics in an effort to convince themselves of his contentious selection. He survives.

Four overs plus change remaining. We’ll be done by half past.

48h over: Australia 152-4 (Khawaja 53, Marsh 3) - Target 539

Final roll of the dice from the Proteas today with Philander returning for one final spell. Half an hour remaining, and shadows lengthening across the pitch, this is not a fun time to be batting.

Khawaja’s digging in though, leaving well, coming forward whenever he can but rocking back to milk three from a long hop. Marsh off the mark with a well-timed back foot drive for three.

47th over: Australia 146-4 (Khawaja 50, Marsh 0) - Target 539

Marsh survives his first delivery but with 3/44 this day is fast belonging to Kagiso Rabada.

WICKET! Voges c de Kock b Rabada 1 (Australia 146-4)

Rabada’s first delivery of the over to Voges is a ripper! Good length, nips in, appeals for caught behind and LBW, neither given. The next seams away and beats the outside edge, gorgeous fast bowling with a 47-over ball. Two more keep Voges honest and then the wicket ball, good length, kisses the outside edge and Rabada has his man. What a glorious spell this is.

Oh to be 21 and have this much raw talent.

46th over: Australia 146-3 (Khawaja 50, Voges 1) - Target 539

Neat 50 for Khawaja with a single to long on, and Voges is off the mark in another rapid Maharaj over.

Excellent analysis from Michael Clarke. Identifying that du Plessis used his part-timers when the ball was doing nothing and immediately went to Rabada as soon as there was a hint of reverse swing. Excellent way to buy his bowlers some freshness with little working in their favour.

Updated

45th over: Australia 144-3 (Khawaja 49, Voges 0) - Target 539

Nothing about the pitch in that dismissal, just all the bowler’s skill. Fast, just on the good side of full, tailing away a fraction and Smith was drawn into a shot he’d rather have avoided.

Updated

WICKET! Smith c de Kock b Rabada 34 (Australia 144-3)

Huge moment in the match and a massive scalp for Rabada. The youngster has found the right length to Smith and he draws the Australian skipper forward into a drive that catches the outside edge and carries safely to de Kock.

South African bowler Kagiso Rabada (centre) reacts with team mates after dismissing Australian captain Steve Smith for 34 runs on day 4 of the first Test match between Australia and South Africa at the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA) in Perth.
South African bowler Kagiso Rabada (centre) reacts with team mates after dismissing Australian captain Steve Smith for 34 runs on day 4 of the first Test match between Australia and South Africa at the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA) in Perth. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Updated

44th over: Australia 143-2 (Khawaja 48, Smith 34) - Target 539

Maharaj continuing around the wicket to Khawaja and it’s not a line the Australian is happy with, but he does well enough to inside-edge two and then rotate the strike.

43rd over: Australia 140-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 34) - Target 539

Rabada returning to his probing length to Smith, dropping in the occasional bouncer, one of which gets all jumpy off the crack and screams past de Kock for four sundries.

Phil Withall’s been in touch: “Evening Jonathan, at what point will the Channel Nine commentary team slip into the “pleading hope” phase? It’s inevitable that they will do it. My money is end of the day if these two are still in.” As Francis Urquhart would say - you might think that, I couldn’t possibly comment.

42nd over: Australia 134-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 32) - Target 539

Final drinks of the day have been taken so we’re streaming into the home straight with just 12 overs required to be bowled in the final hour. We’re in for a 90+ overs day! Bring out the bunting.

Maharaj to Khawaja is an interesting little duel to get us back underway with the left-arm spinner bowling a leg-stump line from around the wicket and the left-hander at the crease is not too happy about it. A testing maiden ensues.

41st over: Australia 134-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 32) - Target 539

Inevitable discussion of the slip cordon stagger now on TV, one of my personal favourites, especially at the WACA Ground.

Nice strike rotation by Khawaja, addressing one of the criticisms of his batting when he’s under pressure. Smith circumspect against a testing length from Rabada.

40th over: Australia 133-2 (Khawaja 44, Smith 31) - Target 539

Maharaj is causing Australian hearts to flutter but there’s no magic ball just yet. A few squirty edges and nurdled singles do the job.

A Steyn, a Steyn, my kingdom for a Steyn...

39th over: Australia 131-2 (Khawaja 43, Smith 31)

Rabada’s second over begins with an unplayable snorter than leaps off a crack and gives Smith no chance, rueful smiles all around.

A single to the skipper brings Khawaja onto strike and Rabada moves around the wicket. DROP! Genuine edge from the lefty and it flies low between keeper and first slip but de Kock doesn’t dive for it, Amla does, low to his right, but it’s a touch chance by the time it reaches him and he can only parry it down. Why did de Kock not make the move? Massive opportunity wasted for the Proteas.

Usman Khawaja was given a life late on day four of the first Test in Perth.
Usman Khawaja was given a life late on day four of the first Test in Perth. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Updated

38th over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 30)

Maharaj is back to the Prindiville Stand end and into the breeze. Presumably that previous passage of four or so overs was a chance for the left-arm spinner to figure out his preferred end (rather than to showcase the moderate Cook).

He looks dangerous too, bowling a teasing maiden to Khawaja who was hanging back in his crease after the pitch hinted at misbehaving more than once. The trick for South Africa is to get into the batsman’s head about the state of the cracks and make them believe they’re spitting, even when they’re not.

37th over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 30)

Game on again! Kagiso Rabada is into the attack for his first spell after tea. Three slips immediately rub spittle into their palms but the young tyro’s not on his game from the off, dropping short and wide, allowing Smith to leave a few and then slap a cut for a disdainful four.

16 overs minimum left in the day.

36th over: Australia 124-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 26)

Cook is continuing from the Prindiville Stand end, for reasons that defeat me. And he nearly accounts for Khawaja! He hits the crack the quicker seamers are going to be targeting and the batsman has to jam down quickly to avoid embarrassment.

The rest of the over is nothing to write home about though as runs are milked at will by two set and very capable players.

35th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 25)

The Cook experiment was to enable Maharaj to switch ends. He now has the Fremantle Doctor coming over his left shoulder as he bowls his left-arm around the wicket offies to Smith. The batsman is looking to counterattack though and he uses his feet well to meet the pitch of the ball a couple of times and work runs into the on-side.

34th over: Australia 110-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 19)

Here we go, the buffet is open! Stephen Cook is brought on for his right-arm who-knows what? It’s his first dart in Test cricket, but he has 10 wickets at First class level at an average of 43.

Cook’s a net bowler at best, jogging in and sending down juicy skiddy half volleys outside off stump. Khawaja has a couple of sighters and then drills one through the covers before guiding one through gully for back to back boundaries.

33rd over: Australia 102-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 19)

Duminy bowling with a slip and a short leg to Smith. For two balls he’s over the wicket, then he switches to around, prompting the Australian skipper to square drive him for four.

32nd over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 15)

Maharaj doing his best to bamboozle Khawaja with his flight and pace but there’s not much doing. A quick maiden to keep the 5.30pm local close well in sight.

31st over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 15)

Umpires having a word with both skippers separately out there, presumably a bit of chat going on.

Duminy continues but Smith’s concentration is good and he refuses to be tempted by a couple of genuine pies. The part-timer’s seven overs going for just 2 rpo, doing the job his skipper needs of him right now to give his pacemen a spell before one final late dash.

30th over: Australia 97-2 (Khawaja 25, Smith 15)

Maharaj, as you’d expect, causing a few more problems than Duminy, but it’s only the deliveries that react to the cracks causing the watchful batsmen any issues.

One of the holding patterns the Proteas are going to have to deal with here as they try to winkle another eight wickets with only a three-man attack.

29th over: Australia 96-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 15)

Duminy around the wicket to Smith who’s looking to drive whenever he can, chopping down hard on the ball with that pendulous action of his. He picks up three courtesy of a loose wide one before Khawaja retains strike with an easy single.

28th over: Australia 92-2 (Khawaja 23, Smith 12)

Maharaj left-arm around to the left-handed Khawaja. Four deliveries are smothered and the fifth... downtown from Usman - straight towards long on - and it clears him by inches and over the rope for six. I know the advice is ‘play your natural game’ in these situations, but blimey, that would have been some backlash had he been caught.

27th over: Australia 86-2 (Khawaja 17, Smith 12)

South Africa just one challenge remaining now, Australia retain both. Pretty optimistic call in hindsight, will du Plessis come to rue his review?

Duminy, around the wicket to Khawaja. The batsman happy to smother anything straight and attack the occasional wide one, unfortunately for him those strokes keep finding fielders.

26th over: Australia 85-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 12)

Spin at both ends with Keshav Maharaj sharing duties with Duminy. Yowza! Second ball of the over lands perfectly on a crack, spits, turns, bounces, fizzes, snarls at Smith who is powerless to get anywhere near it and it’s taken by de Kock.

A couple of balls later Maharaj throws down a slider that beats SMith for pace and hits him on his back pad. REVIEW! ... It comes out the front of Maharaj’s hand and beats the inside edge of Smith’s defence, but it’s done too much and DRS indicates it would have missed leg stump by a few inches. Smith survives but the cracks are starting to work their evil magic.

25th over: Australia 85-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 12)

JP Duminy with the first over after tea, the first of many to be bowled by South Africa’s part-timers making up Dale Steyn’s lost overs.

Steve Smith looks in decent touch at the crease, Usman Khawaja not so much, largely because the massive cracks and dirty foot marks are considerably more of an issue to the left-hander.

Have you had your fill of that Bavuma run out yet? Has to bolt immediately into the all-time best run outs; the anticipation, the dive, the batsman...

But how does it stack up against a couple of other tidy pieces of South African fielding?

Jonty Rhodes was a good fielder.
A very good fielder.

Updated

Korea are the inaugural East Asia Cup champions!

Update from Justin McCurry, our man in Tokyo: Japan 100-7; Korea 101-6.

Evening all. I’ll be steering the Good Ship OBO through to the close of play, and get this - there are only 29 overs scheduled to be bowled, so we might be out of here at a reasonable hour for a change.

If you have something to contribute, please send it my way. Twitter is easy @JPHowcroft and the email is: jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk

TEA: Australia 84-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 11)

Another good session for South Africa draws to a close, in which they set a massive target of 539 before taking the wickets of Marsh and, crucially, Warner. Australia still need to get 455, with eight wickets remaining, if they are to record an, um, record run chase and enter the history books. It could happen, but you wouldn’t want to put your house on it.

Jonathan Howcroft is next up to take you through the final session of the day, and from me, it’s bye for now.

24th over: Australia 84-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 11) Oof, another one that keeps low, scooting under Khawaja’s bat – and de Kock’s pads – brings up four byes, and that will be that. Tea!

Updated

23rd over: Australia 80-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 11) A flick off Smith’s pads brings up another four runs off the bowling of Philander. There’s one final over to be bowled before tea at the Waca, by Maharaj.

Updated

22nd over: Australia 76-2 (Khawaja 16, Smith 8) Brilliant batting from Khawaja, who shows exactly what he is capable of – and that, possibly, this match is still alive. He takes Maharaj to task, hitting a beautiful shot through the covers for four before launching a six over long-off. Confident stuff from the Australian No3.

21st over: Australia 66-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 8) Philander fires up and has Smith in a bit of trouble. It’s a maiden, but Smith survives. This really is a crucial period for Australia – it’s a decent shout to say that if Smith and Khawaja fall soon, the hosts’ already minimal hopes will die a quick death.

20th over: Australia 66-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 8) There’s a lot of excitement in the South African field this over as the visitors, especially those fielding in close, attempt to ramp up the pressure on both Smith and Khawaja. Smith comes down the track and pads the ball to silly point – the cause of much of the Proteas’ excitement.

Updated

19th over: Australia 63-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 5) Philander to Khawaja. Two runs off the over as both batsmen seek to settle. Solid enough on the evidence of this over.

18th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 4) A quick-fire maiden over from Maharaj, as Smith bides his time.

17th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 4) Philander back on now, from the other end. It’s a maiden. And after that period of chaos, there’s some concern among the Australian contingent that we’ll even get to a fifth day in this Test.

16th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 4) Maharaj is handed the ball for the first time this innings. Khawaja has the measure of him though, and he slog sweeps to the boundary before he pushes a single to mid-off.

15th over: Australia 56-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 4) Smith takes his guard, in the knowledge he’s on a pair. No pressure for the skipper then. That threat lasts five nervous balls before on the sixth, he gets the faintest of touches on a wayward delivery from Rabada and the ball races away down the leg side, past de Kock and for four runs. The Fremantle Doctor blows across the ground – no, wait, it’s just Smith exhaling with relief.

14th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 0) Khawaja survives a big scare on his first ball – he’s given out caught behind – but the decision goes upstairs and he’s reprieved. He’s also cleared of lbw for good measure, and Australia can breathe a big sigh of relief. The monster collapse is averted – or at least delayed for the time being. Duminy completes a maiden, and we can all take stock a bit.

Updated

13th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 0) Well, well, well. Warner’s is a crucial wicket for the South Africans, but to lose both openers in an over is terrible news for the Australians. Replays show just how brilliant a piece of fielding that was from Bavuma – such athleticism, to throw with such accuracy whilst horizontal in midair. Sensational. Khawaja and Smith at the crease, with neither having faced a ball yet.

WICKET! Marsh c du Plessis b Rabada 15, Australia 52-2

Another! Two wickets fall in the over! And it’s Marsh next to fall, a thick edge flying through to second slip, where du Plessis takes a comfortable catch.

Updated

WICKET! Warner run out 35, Australia 52-1

A chance, albeit slight, goes begging as Warner flashes over the top of third slip on the first ball of the over. He collects four runs, but on the very next delivery, he’s run out after some sensational fielding from Bavuma, who picks up and throws full on the dive. It’s a direct hit and Warner is inches short of the mark!

Warner is run out by Temba Bavuma
Warner is run out by Temba Bavuma. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Updated

12th over: Australia 48-0 (Marsh 15, Warner 31) Ooh, that’s close! The ball collects a bit of bat and a bit of pad on its way through Warner’s defences on the first ball of Duminy’s over. A couple of singles follow as the scoreboard keeps ticking over for Australia. 491 runs now needed with four and a half sessions remaining.

11th over: Australia 45-0 (Marsh 14, Warner 29) Du Plessis keeps faith with Rabada and he gets a mixed bag this over from the paceman – his second delivery stays low and gives de Kock a headache when collecting the ball behind the stumps before he digs one in short and is called for a wide. Marsh is at least having to think about this.

10th over: Australia 43-0 (Marsh 14, Warner 28) JP Duminy into the Proteas’ attack now as Faf du Plessis tries to find a breakthrough. Duminy opts to leave his shades on for his moment in the spotlight and for five balls of his opening over, he does a decent enough job, until a juicy full toss is despatched with aplomb by Marsh through mid-wicket for four runs.

Ninth over: Australia 38-0 (Marsh 10, Warner 28) Marsh is denied a boundary by some sterling fielding work by Cook – he settles for three – before a moment of classic Warner delights the crowd. He punches through backward point and watches on as the ball races away to the ropes. Lovely stuff from Warner, who is looking good out there so far.

Eighth over: Australia 30-0 (Marsh 7, Warner 23) Philander bears down on Warner once more, but the South African quick can’t find a way to unlock the Australian’s defences this over. He adds two to his total, through midwicket.

Meanwhile, Justin McCurry, the Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent has been in touch. “There’s another international cricket match happening today: Japan v Korea in the T20 final of the first East Asian Cup,” he writes. “Japan 100-7; Korea 12-0 after two overs.” Do keep us updated, Justin.

Seventh over: Australia 28-0 (Marsh 7, Warner 21) Another fielding blooper, this time from Maharaj, gives Marsh a second run off the bowling of Rabada. No cheers from the stands this time though.

Sixth over: Australia 26-0 (Marsh 5, Warner 21) Marsh throws down a rather unconventional leave before he prods a single through the on side to keep the scoreboard ticking over. It’s been a decent enough start by Australia, with Warner predictably taking the lead role in this run chase. Michael Clarke is encouraged by the start, saying if Warner and Smith prove to be the main batsmen “they’ll definitely chase these runs down”. It’s a big call.

Fifth over: Australia 23-0 (Marsh 3, Warner 20) No such conservative play from Warner this next over though! He opens up the face of his bat and finds the boundary on successive Radaba deliveries. Cheers (jeers?) are then elicited as Warner flicks off his legs for a single that quickly turns into two runs after a mis-field by Philander. They’ll take anything they can get at the moment, this Perth crowd.

Fourth over: Australia 13-0 (Marsh 3, Warner 10) One zips through from Philander and Marsh displays a good awareness in leaving a couple. No runs from this over as excitement levels slowly come back down after that opening burst from Warner.

Third over: Australia 13-0 (Marsh 3, Warner 10) Marsh is off the mark with a flick off his legs and a quickly-taken two before he plays a measured hook from a shortish ball from Rabada. Warner then gives flutters to the locals in the crowd (Australians, that is) as he flashes his blade at a rising ball. There’s no contact though, and he’ll continue to take the fight to South Africa. 539 to win.

Second over: Australia 10-0 (Marsh 0, Warner 10) David Warner. What can you say? First ball: four (a beautiful square cut despatched to the boundary). Second ball: four (a little streaky, but the ball races away safely nevertheless). A terrific start before Philander then reels the Australian opener back in a little. Ten off the over and hosts are up and running.

First over: Australia 0-0 (Marsh 0, Warner 0) Rabada steams in to Marsh, who fends off the first couple of deliveries. There’s absolutely zero bounce on Rabada’s fifth ball and the ball skims through, down Marsh’s leg side. The Australians will be minded to keep an eye on that dead patch of the track.

So, an even more monumental challenge awaits Australia’s batsmen after that brief hit-out by Philander and Maharaj, the latter so impressive on debut.

Email! The never-disappointing Paul Freeman, watching with his good mate Paul Lee, has been in touch with the solution to the task facing Steve Smith and his men. “What Australia need now,” he writes, “is a couple of good Pauls and that’ll be the South African innings down and chasing some history.”

Interestingly, or not, only four men called Paul have represented Australia at Test level. Answers on a postcard please.

Updated

South Africa declare on 540-8

161st over: South Africa 540-8 (Maharaj 41 no) And that’s that. Du Plessis calls Maharaj in and Australia have been set a target of 539 runs to win this Test match.

WICKET! Philander b Smith 73, South Africa 540-8

Philander looks to hit Smith back over his head but his misjudges the flight of the ball, swings and misses and he’s gone!

160th over: South Africa 540-7 (Philander 73, Maharaj 41) Philander attacks Lyon again and it’s another six runs. Two balls later Maharaj repeats the feat. This is wonderful to watch at the moment.

159th over: South Africa 527-7 (Philander 66, Maharaj 35) Smith with a half-hearted lbw appeal on the third delivery of his over, but it’s travelling well down leg-side and hasn’t got half enough purchase in the turn. Three singles off the over as the initial intent shown immediately after lunch is diluted somewhat.

158th over: South Africa 524-7 (Philander 64, Maharaj 34) Back under way and it’s Lyon who kicks things off, but it’s not pretty as Maharaj signals his and his side’s intentions with back-to-back sixes, the second a much better connection than the first. And the Proteas are heading for an unassailable lead, in double quick time.

Confirmation that South Africa will bat on. Here come the players onto a still sun-drenched Waca pitch.

Once Australia do get into bat, they’ll have to rectify the problems that blighted their first innings if they are indeed to enter the history books. Darren Lehmann spoke earlier about where he thought those issues lay.

It’s happened the last few Test matches. They do all the prep, they’re great young men ... it’s just a case of making little mental lapses at times ... We were probably maybe a little bit timid at times and not looking to score and rotate the strike.

Still, he’s not going to make any changes for the second Test in Hobart, unless forced to. Lehmann said “the 12 is the 12”, although that was before Peter Siddle revealed he was a “bit and sore” on his way off before lunch following a lengthy shift with the ball. Joe Mennie, the 12th man, could be the man the benefit should Siddle’s body let him down.

Thanks Adam, another beautifully crafted innings from you today. So there we have it, South Africa turning the screw on the hosts at lunch on day four, with Australia having had very little to shout about so far today. The question is now: when will Steve Smith and his team get a chance to chase down the Proteas’ big total and enter the record books with the highest successful run chase in the history of Test cricket? The feeling is not quite yet, with no indication from Faf du Plessis that they’re about to declare over a cucumber sandwich or two in the pavilion.

Other questions to mull over while bellies are filling: should Maharaj and Philander re-emerge after the break, do the Proteas run the risk of leaving it too late to bowl out Australia with less than five sessions to go? The longer the South African innings goes on, might Australia be scared off going for victory? It may appear to be a one-way street to a South African victory, but some intrigue at least remains.

Not sure if Adam mention this earlier, but in case he didn’t, the highest successful run chase of all time came in 2003, when West Indies reached 418-7 to defeat Australia in St John’s. Here are the next best:

414-4 - South Africa beat Australia in Perth in 2008
406-4 - India beat West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976
404-3 - Australia beat England in Leeds in 1948
387-4 - India beat England in Chennai in 2008
382-3 - Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2015
369-6 - Australia beat Pakistan in Hobart in 1999

Anyway, it’d be great to get your thoughts on this match, and the second session in particular. Speak your brains on Twitter (@mike_hytner) on via email (mike.hytner@theguardian.com). We’ll be back under way at the Waca Ground in Perth shortly.

LUNCH: South Africa 508-7 (Philander 63, Maharaj 19)

South Africa were very open about their approach after play last night, they wanted to bat and bat. Then bat some more if the opportunity allowed. But in order to achieve another day of grind, they had to get in again. If the tourists lost four wickets in a hurry, Australia would have remained vaguely in this game.

In full knowledge of this, de Kock and Philander went about slowly building up their base to begin, happy enough to see of maidens and let the Australian attack leaders come and go before capitalising either side of the drinks break. de Kock’s hefty hitting included a glorious pair of straight sixes down the ground to welcome Lyon to the attack, summing up the nature of the challenge for the Australian tweaker.

The South African ‘keeper/bat was given out twice by the on-field umpires - once caught down legside off Hazlewood and lbw off Lyon - but both were overturned. Between times, Philander was dropped on the boundary by Hazlewood; a chance he should have taken at fine leg.

De Kock finally went for 64 when miscuing a drive off Marsh, taken nicely by Voges in the gully, their stand 119. But this didn’t stop Philander who continued playing his shots in the final half hour, collecting his fifth career half century along the way and making it to lunch unbeaten.

For Australia, it got scrappier as the morning went on, illustrated by the 41 extras they have conceded so far in the innings, principally through wides and byes. Simply put, they’ve spent. With a deficit of 506 and three wickets till to take, the only way out of this for the home side is batting for a very long time. After the punishing weekend they’ve had so far, that would be as good as a win.

Enough already. Mike Hytner will be here to take guard after the lunch break. Enjoy his company, as I have yours. Provided we’re still going, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Updated

157th over: South Africa 508-7 (Philander 63, Maharaj 19) Nondescript end to a nondescript session. Voges unable to create a chance, the tourists through to lunch having lost just one wicket in the session. Some final thoughts in a tic.

156th over: South Africa 504-7 (Philander 61, Maharaj 18) Lyon’s last over of an unfortunate session doesn’t get the wicket he craves, Philander’s edge won frustratingly for the bowler, not to hand. Maharaj takes a couple when he gets his chance. One more over? Australia racing around. Good on ‘em. Voges it’ll be.

155th over: South Africa 501-7 (Philander 60, Maharaj 16) A mighty effort for South Africa, their 500 up. And with the lead 499 Australia require an even 500 to win this Test. I know, I know - I’ll stop with that now. Voges second over gives the South Africans two opportunities to turn the strike over, Majarah down the ground and Philander tickling to fine leg.

This’ll be good listening at the lunch break I reckon.

154th over: South Africa 499-7 (Philander 59, Maharaj 15) It is a maiden this time, Lyon and Philander again content to go through the motions somewhat. Lyon obviously doing anything he can to break through, but hasn’t been a lot in this for him at any stage really.

153rd over: South Africa 499-7 (Philander 59, Maharaj 15) Right, I see what they are doing here. Voges through his over quicker than Lyon. One to long off for Philander. But other than that, it’s mutually beneficial forward defensive. Everyone wants a feed and a drink, I think.

152nd over: South Africa 498-7 (Philander 58, Maharaj 15) Carbon copy of the previous over, five sound dots from Lyon before Maharaj is the beneficiary of a half-volley that he smashes through the covers. Is that Adam Voges taking his hat off? It is. Why isn’t the captain having a go himself? He has a golden arm, don’t you know.

151st over: South Africa 494-7 (Philander 58, Maharaj 11) Marsh does well to keep Philander down the same end with five consecutive dots. Nothing wrong with his off-stump line, or full length. But when he pushes for something with the final ball Philander leans into an off-drive and it races away for four. The captain won’t like that. The TV talking up a declaration. Not sure why they’d go for that.

150th over: South Africa 490-7 (Philander 54, Maharaj 11) What a great time to bat for a man on debut. Maharaj has a swing early in the over getting just enough of it to clear mid-off, picking up a couple. Then when Lyon tightens up the line and spins to leg, he turned it fine beyond Nevill’s glove for a boundary. Runs everywhere now. For what little this is worth: it would be the second fourth innings score full-stop now, easily surpassing the 451 New Zealand made in a admirable but futile chase against England in 2002. The highest is the 654-5 England made against South Africa in a 1939 timeless Test. If memory serves me correctly, it only ended because they had to get the boat back to England. Probably a good thing given war broke out a couple of few later.

149th over: South Africa 484-7 (Philander 54, Maharaj 5) Oh dear. That is the third time this innings that five wides will appear on the scorecard, Mitch Marsh’s bouncer going waaaay over Philander and Nevill, who isn’t enjoying much about his morning. This is followed later in the over with a bouncer, one that Philander is well up for. High on the toes he gets it down to safety and the boundary. Lovely shot. Lovely innings. 12 from the over.

148th over: South Africa 472-7 (Philander 50, Maharaj 2) With a single to midwicket that’s a half century to Philander; the fifth of his Test career. What a handy bloke to have coming in at eight (cue: ‘if he were Australian he’d be coming in at six). Another untidy moment with Lyon and Nevill, the ‘keeper missing his second legside take of the morning.

147th over: South Africa 470-7 (Philander 49, Maharaj 2) Well, Australia needed four wickets in a hurry this morning. Granted, they didn’t need 90 minutes and a flurry of boundaries before it came. But in theory, they’ve plenty of time to remove the South Africans before the first break. Maharaj, I fancy, will give them a chance or two based on what we have seen of him on debut so far - he’s a lasher. Evidence of that almost immediately here, trying to lift Marsh over long on with the last ball. It’s not pretty, but it’s safe. The lead is 468, in case you were wondering.

WICKET! de Kock c Voges b M Marsh 64. South Africa 468-7

A fine partnership of 116 comes to an end when de Kock miscues a drive into the covers, taken nicely by a diving Adam Voges, the man who put him down late yesterday. After a couple of DRS reprieves, and some outstanding strokeplay, that’ll be his lot. For Australia, a breakthrough, at last.

146th over: South Africa 468-6 (de Kock 64, Philander 49) It’s like an ODI at some stages now, not least this over where Lyon is taken to sweepers on three consecutive occasions, the batsmen walking though with ease.

145th over: South Africa 465-6 (de Kock 62, Philander 48) Mitch Marsh on for a trundle. And a trundle it looks when Philander picks up a half volley off his pads. He isn’t missing out on that. They raced through for a couple to begin the over, illustrating again that they really want to grind Australia into the ground here. As they should with back-to-back Tests.

“It is a worrying sign for Australia that is happening the way it is,” says Simon Katich on the wireless of the morning so far.

144th over: South Africa 458-6 (de Kock 59, Philander 44) de Kock is so good. Inside out over long off after dancing down the track. Not even inside out on reflection, the swing of the bat adjacent, the timing superb. Lyon’s in the firing line here; very hard to bowl offies when a bloke is going that to you. It went for six, in case that wasn’t clear. Philander takes a couple off the edge to end the over, which’ll only frustrated the bowler further. All coming after four byes kicked off the Lyon set, Nevill missing a poor delivery down the legside. They’re kept it together admirably through their long stint in the field, but there is a risk the wheels could fall over before lunch here. 40 minutes until that respite.

143rd over: South Africa 445-6 (de Kock 52, Philander 42) Hazlewood is back, not Starc, running away from us from the Lillee-Marsh Stand. He takes a couple of balls to get back into shoebox, a couple straying onto the pads, but he’s there by the end of the set. A single from Philander through midwicket the only damage.

142nd over: South Africa 444-6 (de Kock 51, Philander 42) Nath. Mate. Here’s the thing. You don’t need to bowl like overs in 75 seconds. You can take up to four minutes and it is still pretty much alright. Maybe three if you’re a spinner. To be fair, if I was his captain I would love it, but as his OBO-er I’m dismayed. Two singles taken through the onside when he drifts onto the mums and dads.

Proud Tasmanian Ric Finlay (the Stats Guru’s Stats Guru) giving it the droll ones on Jack Bird.

141th over: South Africa 442-6 (de Kock 51, Philander 41) A beautiful drive through cover for a couple brings up de Kock’s half century. His sixth in Test cricket alongside one in the first dig here, to go with one ton. Took him 81 balls to reach the mark this time around. They’re the only runs from an otherwise tidy Siddle over. After a poor start, he’s doing his job now. But I reckon Starc will be back soon enough. Just gotta keep chopping and changing in situations like this.

Interesting broader point by the twitter artist formerly known as The Fake Nathan Hauritz. The ‘no change for two Tests’ thing... I get why squads were named for consecutive fixtures at a time forever. But planes are pretty good at getting people to places in a hurry now, are they not?

140th over: South Africa 440-6 (de Kock 48, Philander 41) Just the one added after the review, de Kock flaying to the sweeper at deep point in middle-over-ODI-style. And they’re off for a wee little drinkypoo. Rubbish hour for Australia, 50 runs added without loss, the tourists now 438 ahead. Another dropped chance, a couple of successful shouts overturned. Within reason, they’re not doing a whole lot wrong with the ball. What to do?

NOT OUT! I’m going on this before the decision again because hot spot shows it has touched the glove. It’ll be overturned. Oh, he’s caught up with me to confirm that point. Second time he’s been given out and overturned this morning. Stinging for him too, the Aussies.

REVIEW! Nathan Lyon has trapped de Kock from around the wicket. Straightened nicely. Has he hit it? Straight upstairs he goes. The process begins. Let’s rock and roll, as they say in the (DRS) classics.

139th over: South Africa 439-6 (de Kock 47, Philander 39) A ball away from back to back maidens for Siddle, bowling appropriately to his ring field. A tad short with the last delivery though, Philander able get on top of the bounce and force past point for a couple.

Updated

138th over: South Africa 437-6 (de Kock 47, Philander 39) de Kock has pulled and hooked the seamers, and now he’s loft and sweeping the spinner. The the back leg down, he bludgeoned Lyon through square leg. de Kock coming off was the nightmare scenario for Australia this morning. Adam Voges, a proud man, will be feeling it especially having put him down yesterday while still in single digits.

Fair bit of anger on the world wide web about Hazlewood’s drop a couple of overs back. Can’t say they didn’t have their chances, the locals.

137th over: South Africa 431-6 (de Kock 41, Philander 39) A timely maiden from Pete Siddle. Much better. That relentless off-stump line that he’s made a career out of. Nathan Lyon is on at the other end with his 90 second overs, so no room to be flowery.

136th over: South Africa 431-6 (de Kock 41, Philander 39) Nathan Lyon into the attack for the first time today, and de Kock welcomes the move, popping him over cow corner for six of the best. Probably more long-on to be fair to him. Long-on sounds less of a slog, and it wasn’t a slog. He’s away. They’re both away. Much like yesterday, Australia haven’t got the morning breakthrough that the situation demanded.

135th over: South Africa 425-6 (de Kock 35, Philander 39) That little countdown didn’t take long, de Kock leaping onto a Pete Siddle loosener of sorts, the man at deep square no chance to stop that. It means if Australia to win it will be a world record for the lead goes beyond the 414 South Africa chased here in 2008 and the current record, when the West Indies hauled down against the touring Australians in 2003. Philander makes it two boundaries for the other with the last ball, clipping off the pads. Not a great start from the Victorian, as much as it hurts me to say that.

Updated

134th over: South Africa 414-6 (de Kock 28, Philander 35) Dropped! Oh that’s bad from Big Josh who I’ve just been talking up. Big top edge down to fine leg, and coming down underneath it close to the advertising rope he lost his way, dropped the ball. Further insult: it fell onto the boundary, six runs scored. U.G.L.Y. (Yeah, that’s right, I just linked to that).

The missed chance came the ball after after Philander smashed Starc with force to the boundary. Absolutely clobbered. Got his eye in now, the first innings destroyer with the ball. With that stroke, Australia will now need to chase more than the 406 India successful did against the West Indies in 1976, for 27 years the record. The Proteas’ lead is 412.

133nd over: South Africa 404-6 (de Kock 28, Philander 25) Feel a bit for Hazlewood. Admittedly, that wasn’t a “wicket” for the highlight reel, an old-fashioned strangling. But he has been relentless, evidenced by the fact that he’s bowled 11 maidens in this shift of 36 overs.

Meanwhile, Aleem Dar not popular on twitter for that howler.

Updated

NOT OUT! “Significant gap,” between bat and ball according to the third umpire. Not a very good decision. The Australians are walking back to their positions well before the formal decision is handed down. Indeed, it still hasn’t be, but I’m posting this anyway.

REVIEW! de Kock given out caught down the legside off Hazlewood. He is straight upstairs. Stand by.

132nd over: South Africa 402-6 (de Kock 27, Philander 24) South Africa’s 400 up, but no one is paying attention as it comes via a pull shot creamed into Shaun Marsh’s right knee at short leg. Doesn’t rub it. Gotta love that. Reminds me of the Justin Langer video discussing his Australian debut in 1993. “There are no heroes in Test cricket,” offered David Boon to the Little Aussie Battler when coping a fearsome blow to the elbow. Take a look in the lunch break, well worth it. With another de Kock single later in the over when Starc drifts onto the pads, it takes South Africa’s lead to 400. We’ll count off the fourth innings scores Australia will need to overtake as we pass them. Next: Australia’s 404 at Leeds in 1948.

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131st over: South Africa 399-6 (de Kock 24, Philander 24) No real urgency from the South Africa pair this morning. Makes sense. As JP Duminy said in his post-play comments yesterday, there’s no declaration coming any time this side of tea (in the event they get that far). There’s broader utility here in grinding Australia into the ground with the second Test beginning in Hobart on Friday. Not the longest trip in football, but near enough. Can’t imagine Starc will be thrilled, this the eighth session in the Test where he has had to bowl, out of 10. Hazlewood’s over cedes a couple of singles into the onside, de Kock once again deploying the horizontal bat square of the wicket.

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130th over: South Africa 397-6 (de Kock 23, Philander 23) Starc only has the one slip to de Kock. The wunderkind keeper/bat had an early chance yesterday when Voges wasn’t able to take a chance running back with the flight. We know from the first innings (and any number of white-ball innings) that he has the ability to pile on the runs in a hurry. It’s Australia’s biggest exposure this morning, it’s essentially they get de Kock out before he does too much damage. Two men as out at deep backward square and fine leg, the squarer of the two required to sweep as the batsman hooks Starc at the first time of asking. He takes a couple. Starc follows the bouncer with a fast yorker, but he’s up to that as well, digging it out. Good contest.

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129th over: South Africa 395-6 (de Kock 21, Philander 23) South Africa open their day four account via a controlled drive behind point, de Kock finding the gap and the rope. It would have been back to back boundaries if not for the fact that Dave Warner put in a superb dive to his left at mid-off. He’s so good at that. Full commitment.

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128th over: South Africa 390-6 (de Kock 16, Philander 23) Starc starts the day from the Prindiville Stand end, coming around the wicket to Philander, the opposite end to where he did the bulk of his work yesterday. I don’t mind this, the big crack on the middle stump line considerably closer to a good length than it was on the third day. So he has a target. It’s back to back maidens, and for South African lucky for them not a wicket maiden after some tail away comprehensively beats the batsman outside the off stump with the penultimate delivery. Nice start.

127th over: South Africa 390-6 (de Kock 16, Philander 23) It’s Hazlewood v de Kock to begin from the Lillee-Marsh/Members Stand end, starting in front of a fairly modest crowd. Get down here, local sportsfans. The other itself it a tidy one, no runs added to the overnight total. The NSW quick maintained a straight line throughout, with the exception of a bouncer that was comfortably let through to the ‘keeper Nevill.

The scoreboard pressure in this opening hour is significant for the fact that we’re 30 runs from world record chase territory. But without Steyn, what does that mean exactly? Dirk Nannes is upbeat on the radio, as far as Australian hopes are concerned: “It is just massive, a three man bowling attack to bowl Australia out including a spinner on debut. That is hard work, and you will be ground down.”

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Welcome to day four

“So you’re saying... we’re a chance?”

They are the words of Ian Healy on the TV, rather amusingly to be fair to him, drawing on some Jim Carrey magic in Dumb and Dumber. It rather neatly sums up Australia’s collective disposition coming into this fourth day at Perth. With the South African tourists 388 ahead with four wickets in hand, the theoretically possible is the realistically highly improbable for the hosts.

But you need not despair, because we’re back with the live over by over coverage for this fourth day here at the Waca Ground in Perth. I’m Adam Collins, I’ll be here on the tools for the first session before Mike Hytner takes over for the afternoon, and JP Howcroft the evening. A good morning (or afternoon, or evening, wherever you are in the world) to you all.

I can report that it is a bit sweaty outside, but in contrast to yesterday, it is not forecast to get any hotter than it is at the moment, floating around the low-to-mid 20s. A fact the depleted South African pace attack (read, duo) would have enjoyed when checking their phones this morning.

It was Dean Elgar and JP Duminy who did all they could to bury Australian hopes in this opening rubber yesterday afternoon. Batting for two entire sessions, the left-handers seldom gave a chance. As Aussie coach Darren Lehmann has said this morning, he is “very happy with the effort” of his bowlers, and believes with a bit of luck they could have taken all the required wickets yesterday. It wasn’t their failings, it was the supreme concentration of the visiting batsmen, Elgar finishing with 127 (from 314 balls, if you don’t mind) and Duminy a delicious 141.

Where’s that leave us? Well, this is the very ground that 414 was chased down in during this corresponding fixture in 2008. Albeit from the other mob. That’s the second highest successful chase in the history of Test cricket and they’ve been at this caper for 140 years.

Duminy was part of that memorable chase, and Dale Steyn the XI as well. His absence in the fourth innings here (and possibly the third if he doesn’t bat) is hugely significant. It leads Lehmann to believe that his side can “chase down anything.” Of course, after losing 10-for-86 on Friday, that’s a bit bold. But what’s the alternative?

Okay, we’re about 15 minutes until go time, so grab a bottle of fanta and a bag of chicken twisties and ready yourself. We’ve had three excellent days of Test cricket so far this week, let’s hope it is a fourth. See you in a bit.

Updated

Adam will be here shortly. For now, here’s how day three panned out.

Updated

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