Australia, at the end of the fourth day of the Durban Test against South Africa, is looking for victory and a successful start to the three-match series of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27, needing six more wickets.
Australian performance on the fourth day
Australia began the fourth day at 33/0 and adopted an aggressive approach due to poor light on the third day. Travis Head was the first player to fall, scoring 11 runs off 18 balls, as a result of a batting error, surrendering to South African captain Temba Bavuma in the middle after receiving a delivery from Marco Jansen, bringing Australia to 43/1.
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Nick Maddinson quickly attacked, scoring 48 runs off 38 balls, including six fours and two sixes, and was approaching his half-century when Heinrich Klaasen broke his defense with a fast yorker, reducing Australia to 72/2.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith improved the game for Australia with a 53-run partnership. Smith, with 27 runs and three fours, was well settled but fell to Marco Jansen in the deep while attempting another big shot, making a batting error.
South Africa in a difficult situation
South Africa faced immense pressure from the Australian fast bowlers while chasing a challenging target of 421 runs on the final day. Josh Hazlewood dismissed Ryan Rickelton for two runs with an opening delivery, putting South Africa in serious trouble at 7/1.
David Bedingham had a good showing with 46 runs off 68 balls, but Hazlewood also sent him back to the pavilion. The pressure on South Africa increased until captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed for one run, bringing the team to 81/3.
After that, captain Pat Cummins also managed to take another wicket, and Aiden Markram, with 45 runs off 115 balls, remains at the crease. At the end of the day, South Africa finished at 102/4 and needed 319 more runs on the final day.
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