Live cricket scores: Australia push for series victory against South Africa in Cape Town
Australia are on the verge of being able to push for series victory early on day four, but South Africa will be eager to dig in and turn the momentum again. Follow all the action with our live blog.
Australia are on the verge of being able to push for series victory early on day four, but South Africa will be eager to dig in and turn the momentum again.
The Proteas hold a 40-run lead with six wickets in hand as Matthew Breezkte and Ryan Rickelton resume.
Follow all the action with our live blog.
Aaron Kirby is reporting live.
The straight one
Lyon is getting enough turn now that the real danger is his slider.
He has nearly slipped through the defence a couple of times.
SA 4-165
Digging in
The Proteas will be happy with their start.
They are ticking along but there has not been a wicket chance so far this morning.
Australia will just be hoping for one breakthrough as Lyon finds some sharp turn to the right hander.
SA 4-158
And... rotate
Hazlewood is into the attack.
His first balls have been a touch short but he’s coming around the wicket at the lefty and looking to use the angle.
He also looks to be getting a tiny bit of reverse swing.
SA 4-156
Baiting
Breezkte sticks his tongue out at Starc after ducking a short ball.
The banter is keeping the youngster engaged in the battle with his mind in the game.
He has really struggled to adapted to the Test game but this might be the way forward for him.
SA 4-152
Chat it up!
Breezkte has a running battle going with the Aussie bowlers.
It started last night with a few comments and has flowed through to this morning.
All parties are enjoying the battle.
SA 4-147
Flat
The pitch got rolled this morning and the preperations to clean it up for the start of play mean it’s at its flatest for the next hour.
Starc is getting nothing from the 49-over-old ball.
He will be hoping for some reverse swing but the quicks will get short spells.
SA 4-143
Here we go!
Nathan Lyon starts the day!
Breetzke blocks it away.
SA 4-140
Perfect weather
The conditions remain perfect for cricket and there should be no delays in play today.
We are about 10 minutes from getting going.
Target?
The South Africans will want to set Australia at least 220 for victory.
The pitch is starting to spin a lot but there’s nothing in it for the quicks.
The home side only have Simon Harmer to work with spin-wise and then get some part-timers from Aiden Markram.
Nathan Lyon will be huge for the Australians in this morning session.
Welcome!
There’s a good chance this is the final day of the series after Australia grabbed the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the dying minutes of play last night.
However, they can’t get complacent because the home side still have a bit of batting talent to come.
The tourists will back themselves despite the flat pitch to get a run on with the home side effectively starting the day 4-40 after wiping off the 100-run lead Australia earned in the first innings.
Tune in as we bring you all the latest from Cape Town.
