Friday began with South Africa barely in credit and a long day of Australian pressure ahead. It ended with Newlands on its feet for Wiaan Mulder, and with the visitors facing a fourth-innings chase that will decide a series level at 1-1.
The Proteas Australia Newlands day four story finishes with South Africa all out for 387 in their second innings, a lead of 287. Australia need 288 to win on Saturday, and they did not face a ball on Friday because the last wicket fell so late in the day.
How Rickelton and Mulder took the day away from Australia
The home side resumed on 140 for 4, only 40 in front. Ryan Rickelton put it bluntly to reporters after play: “We knew we were effectively 40 for four this morning and that Australia would come hard at us.”
Matthew Breetzke ground out 43 from 121 balls before Pat Cummins set a short-ball trap and Breetzke pulled it to Mitchell Starc on the boundary. That left South Africa 181 for 5, and it was the only wicket Australia took in the first two sessions.
Rickelton and Mulder then shut the door. They added 154 for the sixth wicket, content to bat time on a pitch where Nathan Lyon found considerable turn and the seamers variable bounce. “It was about trying to win the small moments,” Rickelton said.
It took something special in the field to separate them. Josh Inglis dived to stop a ball in the infield and ran Rickelton out for 101 from 219 balls, his third Test century. South Africa were 335 for 6.
Proteas Australia Newlands day four: the tail, then the target
That run-out started Australia’s burst after tea. The last four wickets fell for 52, and Marco Jansen went for a duck and Simon Harmer for 1. Yet 36 of those runs came in a last-wicket stand between Mulder and Kagiso Rabada, with Mulder reaching his hundred in the fading light and then cutting loose. He was finally caught on the boundary off Cummins for 115 from 221 balls, with Rabada left on 2 not out.
Starc was Australia’s best bowler with 3 for 65. Cummins took 2 for 71 and Lyon 2 for 101 from a marathon 44 overs.
| Day four at a glance | |
|---|---|
| South Africa, second innings | 387 all out (resumed on 140 for 4) |
| South Africa’s lead | 287 |
| Australia’s target | 288 to win on day five |
| Hundreds | Wiaan Mulder 115 (221 balls), Ryan Rickelton 101 (219 balls) |
| Sixth-wicket stand | 154, Rickelton and Mulder |
| Last-wicket stand | 36, Mulder and Kagiso Rabada (2 not out) |
| Also | Matthew Breetzke 43 (121 balls) |
| Australia’s bowling | Starc 3 for 65, Cummins 2 for 71, Lyon 2 for 101 |
| Series | 1-1 going into day five |
Our view: At stumps on Thursday this Test was drifting Australia’s way, as our day-three report set out. Now the pressure has swapped dressing rooms. History is on South Africa’s side: Reuters reports that 288 would be the second-highest successful chase in 137 years of Test cricket at Newlands, and Daily Maverick notes that only Australia’s 331 in 2002 is bigger. The turn Lyon found on Friday should give Harmer real hope, and it hands Temba Bavuma a total to set his fields around. The catch is that Australia have chased big here before. Early wickets on Saturday morning matter more than anything Bavuma’s side did on Friday.
What comes next
Day five on Saturday settles the Test and the series. It has been a series of big swings: a 214-run Australian win at Kingsmead, then an innings victory for the Proteas at St George’s Park. To catch up on how Newlands got here, start with our day-one report on South Africa’s 329, then the day-two report on Inglis and Carey, and our Newlands preview for the squads.