SA vs AUS, 4th Test, Day 1, Review: Aiden Markram helps the hosts rule despite the late Aussie fightback

Finally, there was some action on the field after so much has happened over the last week after Australia was caught tampering the ball in Cape Town. The first day of the fourth and final Test match in South Africa was owned by Aiden Markram who continued to make giant strides in international cricket. His knock helped the home side end the day on a high despite losing four wickets in the last session. However, Australia will have to clean up the tail as soon as possible on the second day else they will behind the game very soon.

South Africa opted to bat first after winning the toss even as the visitors copped yet another blow with Mitchell Starc being ruled out due to injury. They handed over a debut to Chadd Sayers for the crucial game of the series. Also, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns replaced Cameron Bancroft and David Warner at the top, while Peter Handscomb replaced Steve Smith. The hosts went in unchanged to win the series against the disconsolate Aussies.

Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram started off confidently as the new ball bowlers failed to make early inroads. Both added 53 runs for the opening wicket but the former’s lack of technique against spin was once again exposed as Nathan Lyon scalped him in the 18th over of the day. Hashim Amla then joined Markram as the duo stitched a partnership of 89 runs. Markram looked absolutely special during his stay in the middle even though Amla struggled throughout.

ABD and Markram pile on the runs

His 81-ball vigil was ended by the highly impressive Pat Cummins only to bring the best batsman of the series AB de Villiers to the crease. While he also found it hard to score the runs, his partner was in the mood to maul Australia as he continued his superb form with the bat. His front foot drives and back foot punches deserved standing ovations as he brought up the fourth Test century of his career. He grew in confidence after that and made sure he made the knock count.

Meanwhile, De Villiers also found his groove and smashed the bowlers all around the park. Australians were badly in need of a breakthrough and it felt like the game was going only one way before Cummins came and ended the prolific knock of Markram who scored 152 runs off 216 deliveries with 17 fours and a solitary maximum. Even De Villiers reached his half-century and the wicket was a rare shining light on a gloomy day for the Aussies.

Famous Aussie comeback

However, the visitors pounced on the opportunity as the opposition skipper Faf du Plessis was pinned in front by the same bowler off the very next ball. Temba Bavuma then joined De Villiers as they added 52 runs until the new ball arrived only to wreak havoc once again. Chadd Sayers scalped the legendary cricketer as his maiden Test wicket on 69 even as the night-watchman Kagiso Rabada was sent back by the same bowler courtesy a splendid catch from Renshaw.

In the end, South Africa posted 313 runs for the loss of 6 wickets with Bavuma playing on 25 along with Quinton de Kock. Australia would’ve loved a couple more wickets but even they would know that the things could’ve been a lot worse for them had they not taken the new ball. Cummins was the best bowler of the day for them as he bowled his heart out for 19 overs.

The first session of the second day, as usual, would be crucial now for both the teams and more so for Australia as they would aim to clean them up under 350. South Africa would just hope that the unbeaten duo to take them beyond 400 which should be a huge score for the depleted batting line-up of the visitors.

Brief Scores

South Africa 313/6 after 87 overs (A Markram 152, De Villiers 69; P Cummins 3/53, C Sayers 2/64)

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