SYDNEY Captain Pat Cummins declared Australia’s first innings at 475 for four leaving opening batsman Usman Khawaja stranded on 195 on the fourth day of the third Sydney Test against South Africa on Saturday.
Play wasn’t possible on the fourth morning due to light rain and a wet outfield.
Australia lead the series 2- 0 after big triumphs in Brisbane and Melbourne and are pushing for a series color to seal their place in the World Test Championship final in London in June.
Captain Cummins also sailed Australia into contention to pull off a remarkable palm with a fiery spell as he captured three for 29 in a hostile 14 overs to set up the Australians for a dramatic final day charge for palm and a series clean reach against the unhappy Protease.
At the close on day four, South Africa were fur for survival at 149 for six in reply to Australia’s 475- 4 declared with Marco Jansen on 10 and Simon Harmer six.
The excelled South Africans have only passed 200 formerly so far in this series.
The Australians need 14 further lattices to pull off an astonishing palm and can not be counted out after rocking the excursionists in Saturday’s two dominant sessions of the rain- marred Test.
Josh Hazelwood made the original advance, removing Dean Elgar for 15 continuing the Protease commander’s wretched series of low scores.
Hazelwood, brushing a lively opening spell, got Elgar with a brutal short-pitched delivery which cropped his glove for a catch by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Nathan Lyon stunned Sorel Ewe who didn’t play a shot and was sailed top of out- refuse for 18 leaving the excursionists 37- 2 in the 18th over.
Four balls latterly Cummins claimed his first victim with Heinrich Klaasen, caught off a lifter leg- side by Carey for two.
Hazelwood broke through again after tea with an in swinger that kissed the edge of Temba Baume’s club for Carey to do the rest.
Bavuma clouted two sixes off Lyon in his 35 off 74 balls but was a big gate for the Aussies to leave the callers 85- 4 in the 39th over.
“ The boys said it’s starting to reverse swing so if we can keep the ball dry and put a bit of work into it, also hopefully the boys can do the job with rear swing, ” Lyon said during a drinks break.
“ There’s a bit of rough out then now so we ’ll try to get them on the frontal bottom and see what we can do. ”
Cummins removed Khaya Zondo with a superb Yorker that trapped him leg before gate for 39 and South Africa’s fifth gate.
The commander charged in to lead the Australian bowling assault with two fearsome deliveries knocking into Marco Jansen’s upper body.
Cummins snappily got another gate, with Kyle Verreynne edging to Steve Smith at slip for 19 for Smith’s 151st Test catch.
