Live Cricket Scores: Australia chase six wickets to claim victory in first Test against South Africa
Australia are only six wickets away from claiming victory on the final day in Durban but Proteas veteran Aiden Markram stands in their way. Follow all the action with our live blog.
Australia are only six wickets away from claiming victory on the final day in Durban but Aiden Markram stands in their way.
Can the tourists get past him and beat the bad light to go 1-0 up?
Follow our live blog to find out!
Aaron Kirby is reporting live.
Huge impacts
Smith being cleared of concussion for Australia is huge.
It means he will be available for the next Test with a concussion ruling players out for at least 10 days.
Half century
Markram gets the home side’s first half century of the match.
It’s taken 129 balls but he is holding his side together at the moment.
SA 4-116 - need 304
Lyon on
They gave Renshaw a few over to jag another wicket but it’s straight to the main man now in Nathan Lyon.
He will likely bowl for most of the day as the quicks rotate from the other end.
The pitch was rolled this morning and it’s keeping it nice and flat for now.
SA 4-114 - need 307
Tidy start
The ball is not reversing like it was late last night but the Australians have been tight.
South Africa are disiplined at the moment but the tourists know the longer they make them leave the more likely they are to be rash.
SA 4-112 - need 309
Here we go
Matt Renshaw starts the day and Steve Smith is at first slip!
“Looks good”
Mitchell Starc says Smith has come into the day feeling good but is unsure if he will play the rest of the match.
Replacement rules
If Steve Smith can’t take to the field today they can use a concussion replacement but he would need to be like-for-like.
It means they can’t bring in an extra out-and-out bowler. They could potentially use a batting all-rounder like Cooper Connolly but given the game situation, the ICC might want someone who doesn’t bowl at all.
Michael Neser was a sub fielder last night and is a bowling all-rounder.
Steve Smith
The Aussie star was under a concussion cloud last night after he was hit in the head by an Anrich Nortje bouncer in the morning session.
He didn’t come out to field and Australia said they would monitor him overnight.
They have not made a call yet but he was seen warming up on the ground and taking some catches at slip in good signs.
If he does have a concussion, he will be out for at least 10 days, meaning he will miss the next match.
Welcome
We’ve reached day five!
It’s the first time in a little while for the Australians and they start the day needing just six wickets for victory.
But Aiden Markram stands in their way.
Can they get the job done?
