South Africa Need Six Wickets to Win Test Series

Key Takeaways

South Africa need six more wickets to win the Test series against Australia.
Australia were dismissed for 99 in their first innings, leaving them trailing by 170 runs.
Travis Head and Scott Boland are set to resume Australia's second innings on the final day.

South Africa are in a commanding position to win the Test series against Australia, needing just six more wickets to clinch victory. The match is currently at St Georges Park in Gqeberha, with Australia forced to follow on after being dismissed for 99 in their first innings, trailing by 170 runs.

Australia's second innings saw them resume on 156-4, but they are still facing an uphill task. Travis Head, who is edging close to a century, will resume alongside nightwatchman Scott Boland, who is on two. The day was marked by a series of wickets, with South Africa's fast bowler Marco Jansen taking 5-33 in 11 overs.

Sharp catching from South Africa contributed significantly to Australia's first innings collapse, with Simon Harmer taking three wickets, including a diving one-handed effort in the slips to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne.

Veteran Steve Smith, who reached the milestone of 11,000 Test runs in the first innings, struggled with a neck injury and did not bat in the second innings. He dropped down the order as he continued his treatment.

Australia's second innings began with a 92-run partnership between Head and Labuschagne, taking Australia past their first innings total. However, an injudicious attempt to hammer spinner Harmer over the top saw Labuschagne caught near the boundary for 39, followed by Matt Renshaw, who was bowled by Kagiso Rabada for 11.

Beau Webster (8) was the 13th Australian wicket of the day as Harmer trapped him lbw, exposing the tail on the final day. The first two days of the Test were largely washed out, but South Africa staged a major fightback on Tuesday after being 110-6.

Australia's Scott Boland took two wickets in two balls on the first day of the Test, dismissing Aiden Markram and David Bedingham — South Africa's most successful batsmen in the first Test in Durban. Boland's performance came as a result of Australia's decision to field an all-seam attack on a green-tinged pitch in heavily overcast conditions.

Boland, making only his 20th appearance in Australia's 50th Test, has had to wait his turn behind Australia's world-class pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. His performance on the first day was praised by Pat Cummins, who said, 'Scotty Boland has been incredible whenever he’s played Test cricket.'