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OZ 397, SA 206, OZ 290/4d, SA 200 
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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert
***AUSTRALIA WON BY 281 RUNS***
***RECAP OF ALL THE DRAMA FROM DAY 1 - AND DAY 2 AND DAY 3***
16:47 - No doubt the Proteas have much to ponder. Will they persist with Alviro Petersen as opener? Will left-armer Wayne Parnell be brought in? How will they counter Mitchell Johnson's ferocious pace?
All these questions need to be answered over the next few days.
But let’s remember they are the No 1-ranked Test team in the world for a reason and have fought back in series on many occasions. So let’s not write them off completely.
Join us again next week for some more LIVE AND INTERACTIVE COMMENTARY!
16:43 - QUOTES FROM MAN-OF-THE-MATCH MITCHELL JOHNSON
"We set the game up with our batters. We bowled really well as a team. We felt there was something in the wicket for us.
"I was very nervous, and very pumped up. (So) to come out here to do what we did - against the world No 1 team - was great.
"My body is getting old. I'm over 30 now. But I'm here to be the intimidator.
"I hope I can keep the form going," said Johnson after achieving his best-ever match figures in Test cricket.
16:33 - PICTURE
Easy choice for man-of-the-match. Mitchell Johnson registered match figures of 12/127 (Gallo Images)
16:26 - WICKET! Morkel is run out just as he brings up South Africa's 200. GAME OVER: Australia win by a mammoth 281 runs. An absolute hammering! They take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
16:25 - A few glorious cover drives from Philander off Harris...
16:24 - The biggest loss in terms of runs in South Africa is New Zealand's 358 run loss in 2007. At least the Proteas beat that.
16:22 - Now he hooks Siddle all the way onto the embankment for six.
16:20 - Philander into double figure as he hooks Siddle to the boundary for four.
16:17 - Morné Morkel is the last man in. This should be over in a flash.
16:14 - WICKET! Steyn is out for 3, caught in the slips by Clarke off the bowling of Harris. SA 178/9.
16:10 - Most fans are packing up at SuperSport Park, likely thanking the Proteas that they can go and watch Super Rugby.
16:09 - TWEET
Don't underestimate the calming influence @jacqueskallis75 had on the SA dressing room never mind his on field ability .. #SAvAUS - Michael Vaughan
16:08 - Johnson has just broken Philander's bat. #justtooquick
16:06 - TWEET
The only difference between this and England is that at least our best player @ABdeVilliers17 won't be getting the sack tonight. @KP24 - Darren Scott
16:03 - Dale Steyn is the next man in.
16:01 - WICKET! Siddle clean-bowls Peterson for 21. Peterson had no chance against a ball staying that low... But that's the effects of the wearing pitch... SA 165/8.
15:58 - But Philander plays on. Looks like he's not so badly hurt.
15:57 - Ouch, Johnson has struck Philander on the bottom hand. He immediately takes his gloves off. Lets hope it's not a dislocated finger...
15:57 - TWEET
Difference between AB de Villiers and the rest has been his lack of fear. He played the ball, the others have been playing the man - Alternative Cricket
15:55 - After Smith's latest great catch it has to be mentioned how much better Australia's fielding was in this Test compared to South Africa's. They took some sublime catches today while the South Africans butchered quite a few yesterday...
15:48 - Vernon Philander is next in.
15:47 - WICKET! No 12 for Johnson. He bowls a slower ball and has De Villiers caught at short cover by Steve Smith for 48. The end is near...
15:43 - TWEET
My question is: what is AB seeing and doing that his 10 teammates cant? Everybody else seems all at sea. #savaus - Jeremy Harris
15:42 - Peter Kirsten, commentating on Radio2000, says Proteas coach Russell Domingo should definitely consult batting consultant Gary Kirsten after this match.
15:37 - Johnson bounces Peterson first up and he edges it, but it goes over the slips for four.
15:36 - Robin Peterson is next in.
15:35 - WICKET! But McLaren is out next ball. Another bouncer and this time McLaren edges it to 'keeper Haddin. He is out for 6 and South Africa in tatters at 140/6.
15:35 - Rightly given not out and Australia have now lost both reviews.
15:33 - Aussies appeal for a caught behind off a Johnson bouncer. It just brushed McLaren's elbow and should be given not out.
15:32 - Johnson now back on steaming in to McLaren. Four slips in place.
15:29 - Lyon bowls to De Villiers.
15:27 - Welcome back for the day's final session. De Villiers is fighting a lone battle and perhaps just delaying the inevitable. But lets hope McLaren can fight on with him.
15:26 - TWEET
Boucher very good as a TV analyst but how he and Kallis are missed in this Proteas line-up, especially against this kind of onslaught - Graeme Joffe
15:10 - TEA TIME on Day 4: Proteas 132/5, needing 350 runs to win.
We'll be back in about 20 minutes for the day's final session.
15:08 - Good news now as McLaren is up and receives a new helmet. He will bat on...
15:05 - PICTURE
McLaren man down after a Johnson bouncer - CA Digital Media
15:03 - Wow, McLaren is shaken after being struck by a vicious Johnson bouncer... He is down. Mclaren bleeding just behind his right ear!
15:01 - PICTURE
Alex Doolan, you freak. #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
14:57 - Ryan McLaren the new batsman.
14:55 - Also 10 wickets in the match for Johnson. This third 10-for in Test cricket.
14:53 - WICKET! Another great reflex catch at short leg by Doolan. Johnson gets Duminy for 10. I guess my commentator's curse struck... very similar to the Smith wicket. No luck in this game for South Africa as well!
14:51 - Touch wood, but Duminy and De Villiers are handling Johnson quite well here...
14:41 - Just as I write, Johnson is brought back on...
14:40 - It's definitely easier for batting with the softer ball at the moment. And Lyon's not really getting any turn. Aussies looking a tad frustrated.
14:38 - PICTURE: Beer-a-thon?
Look at all the cold beers picked up by Hot Spot. Wonder what this picture would look like in England... #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
14:33 - No real turn here for spinner Lyon, but he keeps toiling hard...
14:26 - Gibbs also says he wouldn't tamper with the batting line-up just yet. He says the conditions for the second Test in Port Elizabeth won't be as bowler-friendly and believes Alviro Petersen should be given another shot, but would like to see Wayne Parnell get a go.
14:21 - Former Proteas batsman Herschelle Gibbs, speaking on Radio2000, says JP Duminy hasn't quite lived up to expectations in the last while and now is the right time for him to make a statement.
14:17 - PICTURE
Decent crowd at SuperSport Park on Saturday, despite the home team staring down the barrel. (Gallo Images)
14:11 - DOMESTIC RESULT
The Cape Cobras bowled the Highveld Lions out for 190 in the second innings of their Sunfoil Series clash to register a 48-run win at Newlands.
13:59 - Proteas 100 up after 32 overs.
13:57 - PICTURE: Why Duminy was given not out...
Yep, that's a big edge. #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
13:52 - Luckily for Duminy he got an inside edge. Otherwise he was plumb lbw. The visitors lose an appeal.
13:51 - Massive lbw appeal by Harris against Duminy off his first ball. Given not out, but the Aussies review it....
13:50 - JP Duminy is next in.
13:49 - WICKET! Amla is out for 35, caught at second slip by Marsh off the bowling of Harris. Rash shot from Amla. No footwork there. SA 97/4.
13:44 - HAVE YOUR SAY
Sport24 fan Tony Sheffield writes: The Petersen show should be closed - both of them.
The captain these days is a one-trick pony - tries to hit everything to leg, but falls over and gets an LBW against him or he plays on the off side and gets caught in the slips. He’s a man of great mental strength, but no longer has the ability to match it.
We are very thin on the ground and AB stands head and shoulders above the rest: Hash is going through a torrid phase and needs to get himself right - is this a hang-over from his Dolphin days?
Look at what the Aussies are doing - their new talent is coming in via the 20-20 format, but we denigrate this as not being proper cricket. Put De Kock in to open. He might struggle, but at least he has promise and he is a back-up wickie who should take over full time when AB is made captain.
Faf should not be going in at 3 - he should be 6 or 7.
Time to have a big clear-out of our side and accept we are going to slip down the rankings. The only decent coaches we had were Bob Woolmer and Gary Kirsten - the rest were or are not up to it. Look how Australia have responded to a coach with a bit of fire in his belly - that’s what we need, not the nicey-nicey soft touch that England has bunch of wets).
Finally - apply for special permission for KP to come and play for South Africa.
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13:38 - Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon now into the attack for the first time.
13:36 - PICTURE
Congratulations to Hashim Amla, who now has 6 000 Test runs. Where does he rate among modern Test batsmen? - FOX Sports Cricket
13:33 - Harris replacing Johnson now.
13:31 - 6000 FOR AMLA
A loud cheer for Amla as the scoreboard show he has reached 6000 Test runs. Only the sixth South African to do it.
13:25 - De Villiers beautifully times Johnson for four off the back foot. The world's best bowler against the best batsman. And the batsman is looking quite good...
13:19 - HAVE YOUR SAY
Sport24 fan William Martin writes: I am following the match from overseas at the moment, and have been for the last few days. I see a lot of debates and discussions back-and-forth reference to stats and opinions and the likes all over the place. My ‘opinion’ of the current seemingly ‘hole’ that the Proteas are in, has everything to do with STRATEGY (Or lack thereof...). The Aussies are all too glad to be seen as psychologically taking on their opponents prior to the match, where that is actually a diversion reference to their STRATEGY.
The Aussies were a few years ago the masters when it came to psychology, in rugby as well as cricket, but the global communities have picked up on that to a certain extent, but it seems as if they have stepped it up a notch once again. Unfortunately it seems as if our SA boys have focused only on structure and the likes, and this has resulted in stagnation in a game where change and inertia is as crucial to preparation as is structure. We have momentum, but it seems as if it is in the wrong direction.... The match against India where we could have gone for the world record have actually caused us to be content with structure, rather than setting the tone, and the result of that specific decision is showing in the current set-up.
The Aussies have left their structure and planning for this particular match right to the last minute and adapted from the moment we sent them in to bat first. M Clarke then capitalized and built the strategy around our mistakes. Seems like they have studied Sun Tsu’s Art of War....
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13:16 - Amla getting nicely into line against Johnson. Apart from his first ball, when he was struck on the visor, he has played the Australian danger-man quite well.
13:15 - Johnson to bowl the second over after lunch from the Pavilion end.
13:13 - De Villiers underway with a four as he flicks it down the leg side to the boundary.
13:11 - Siddle starts to De Villiers.
13:10 - Welcome back for the afternoon session. This will be hard toil for the SA batsmen on a pitch showing some inconsistent bounce and some cracks opening up...
12:55 - PICTURE
Great turnout at SuperSport Park today. Fans out on the field during the lunch break #savaus - Cricket South Africa
12:32 - And that's LUNCH ON DAY 4. Proteas 65/3, requiring another 417 runs to win.
Join us in about 40 minutes for the afternoon session.
12:31 - More uneven bounce as Johnson nearly clean-bowls Amla with a ball that stays low. Wicketkeeper Haddin also misses it and it goes for four byes... But not good signs for the batsmen.
12:27 - PICTURE
Guess which ball got Faf out? #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
12:22 - Australia appeal for a caught behind decision. Johnson bowled one down leg side to Amla. But luckily it just scraped his legs...
12:18 - No doubt that ball to Faf hit one of the cracks on the pitch. But that's what you get if you opt to bat last on it...
12:16 - AB de Villiers, SA's best batsman, is next in.
12:14 - WICKET! Du Plessis is out, lbw to Siddle, for 18. That kept very low. Almost unplayable. SA 49/3.
12:09 - Johnson now back on...
12:07 - Amla and Du Plessis playing Warner with extreme caution. A good thing. You don't want to get out to a "net bowler".
12:05 - PICTURE
Looks like Australia has found its next great pace bowler... #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
11:59 - Good line and length from Warner as he concedes 1 run in the over.
11:56 - Part-time leg-spinner David Warner a surprise inclusion into the bowling line-up. Oh no, strangely enough Warner is bowling some gentle medium pacers. Weird decision!
11:54 - IMPRESSIVE STATS
Since the start of the last Ashes series Mitchell Johnson has taken 46 wickets at an average of 10.8. Current match figures 9/88. Career best 11/159.
11:53 - A lot of uneven bounce in this pitch now. Not what South African want to a see...
11:48 - Another back-foot drive for four by Amla, this time off Siddle. Without Johsnon this Aussie bowling line-up isn't that great!
11:46 - Harris on for Johnson after the drinks break. Clarke using Johnson in spells of shorts bursts...
11:44 - HAVE YOUR SAY
Sport24 fan Grant Phillips writes: The problem is selection issues!! We need to get a decent all rounder, a decent spinner and a proper hard playing opening batsman!
What is Petersen doing opening? When is he going to contribute? He can't field! McLaren must go he bowls absolute rubbish and Robin Peterson is not a test match spinner and never will be!!
Andrew Hudson wake up!!
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11:42 - DRINKS BREAK with SA up against it....
11:37 - Another superb back-foot drive to the boundary by Amla. He seems to be finding his groove now against Johnson.
11:34 - Beautiful back-foot drive by Amla off Johnson. All the way to the boundary.
11:33 - TWEET
Don't tell Fikile Mbalula the cricket score - Jean Smyth
11:30 - Siddle now on for Harris...
11:28 - HAVE YOUR SAY
Sport24 fan Clint Goodway writes: So the cerebral coach Russell Domingo says there is NOTHING the pretty Proteas can do to combat Mitchell Johnson?
One begs to differ:
Previous Protea sides have managed quicker bowlers-Akthar,B.Lee 1)Don't jump as you can't sway if your feet aren't planted 2)Drop the hands and you can't be caught behind 3)Leave the short ball
4) If your captain cannot face leftarm opening bowlers(Zaheer Khan et al) should he be playing?
Smith seems to prepared well for facing lefthand opening bowlers-sure Irish bowling is more "respectful".
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11:26 - PICTURE
Nothing going Smith's way in this Test - FOX SPORTS Cricket
11:21 - Harris - the lessor Australian opening bowler - also getting some nice bounce now. But he gets smacked for back-to-back boundaries by Du Plessis. There's such a massive difference between Johnson and the rest of the Australian bowlers...
11:19 - Faf du Plessis is next in.
11:16 - WICKET! Smith is out for 4. Brilliantly caught by Doolan at backward short-leg off the bowling of Johnson. SA in tatters on 12/2. Wow that was a remarkable catch. Not such a bad shot by Smith, but just fantastic reflexes...
11:15 - Smith edges Johnson through gully for four to get off the mark...
11:12 - PICTURE
...and here's another reason to be scared of Mitch. #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
11:10 - TWEET
Mitchell Johnson making Hashim Amla look like a tailender with that ball. Unbelievable - Peter Miller
11:08 - A mean bouncer first up to Amla. He is lucky to survive. Hits him on the grill of his helmet... Johnson in a different league.
11:06 - Hashim Amla is next in.
11:06 - 250th Test wicket for Johnson.
11:05 - WICKET! Johnson strikes in his first over. Haddin takes a diving catch after Petersen (1) edges it... SA 6/1.
11:04 - A short ball from Johnson goes over 'keeper Haddin's head for five wides.
11:02 - PICTURE
Ominous signs for South Africa... - CA Digital Media
11:01 - Mitchell Johnson to bowl the second over.
10:59 - The first ball Smith faces he plays away from his body and misses it. Luckily he didn't edge it. Rash shot Biff!
10:56 - Ryan Harris will open to Petersen.
10:55 - The Aussies are out of the field in a huddle as Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen appear on the park. A real baptism of fire for them right now.
10:53 - South Africa only need to score at 2.8 runs per over to win. Advantage SA? #wishfulthinking
10:52 - TWEET
Michael Clarke obviously looked at what was happening out there and thought: "Time to let Mitch off his leash!" Survival will be tough - Dan Retief
10:49 - A very strange declaration from Clarke it must be said. I reckon he saw it was quite tough to bat this morning and wasted no time in sending South Africa in. I would have gone for a lead of at least 500, but on this wicket it should nevertheless be enough to win. It will take a monumental effort from South Africa to avoid defeat here...
10:47 - DECLARATION
And just like that Australia declare their innings. South Africa need 482 runs to win.
10:44 - WICKET! Marsh is out, caught behind by De Villiers off Steyn. Good catch by by AB!
10:40 - Wow, a Morkel delivery hits a crack, stays low and almost clean-bowls Clarke. SA's batsmen won't like seeing that...
10:36 - TWEET
Looks like a lead of 550 is the general consensus for what Australia should reach before declaring. #SAvAUS - FOX SPORTS Cricket
10:34 - Dale Steyn to bowl the second over with Michael Clarke on strike.
10:33 - Good first over from Morkel. He beats Marsh's outside edge to end the first over with a maiden.
10:32 - TWEET
Not sure our quicks pinging Aussies on the body this morning helps our batsmen's minds any... - Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing
10:31 - A few short deliveries to start with from Morkel. He hits Marsh on the shoulder as the Aussies takes his eyes off the ball...
10:28 - Shaun Marsh will take strike with Morné Morkel bowling...
10:27 - The players have arrived on the field. 30 Degrees Celsius expected today.
10:25 - SA batsman Faf du Plessis says it will be key for them to get through the new ball. "Once you get through the new ball, you can bat on this track. And hopefully the crack won't play as big a part."
10:24 - Aussie batsman Alex Doolan says they will try look to get a lead of "well over 500" before declaring.
10:16 - Former player and current commentator Kepler Wessels says the Proteas should at least try to put up a decent batting display in their second innings, even if they end up losing.
"It will give them at least some confidence for the rest of the series," says Wessels.
10:14 - Almost a full house expected today... Proteas will need all the support they can get!
10:09 - HAVE YOUR SAY
Proteas fan, Andries, shares his views on the team.
"Why also pick the no 1 batsmen in the world as a wicket-keeper just a month after hand surgery. Our 2 all rounders is also not firing. Rather pick a specialist batsmen and bowler. Not enough cricket for our guys also showing."
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10:06 - Shaun Pollock, in his pitch report, is talking about cracks in the pitch when bowling from the Pavilion end.
"The cracks have got wider. There is plenty in it for the bowlers," says Pollock.
This is ominous signs for the Proteas...
10:05 - QUOTE
"We need something special. The wicket is playing up a bit. It's going to be tough," former wicketkeeper Mark Boucher on the Proteas' possible fightback effort.
09:40 - WHAT WILL AUSTRALIA DO?
That's the million dollar question - and only time will tell. About an hours' time in fact is what we at Sport24 HQ reckon.
With a lead of 479 and seven wickets still in hand, a quick 15 overs of wham, bam, thank you ma'am and Australia should be around the 550 runs ahead mark, giving them five a half sessions to bowl South Africa out and take a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
What do you think?
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09:30 - PROTEAS SHOVED OUT THE RING
Wobbling against the ropes? South Africa have been so outmuscled after three days of the first Test against Australia at SuperSport Park here that they’ve virtually been dumped into the ringside chairs, says Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing.
Click HERE to read Rob's full article...
09:00 - PICTURE
Plenty to ponder for skipper Smith (Gallo Images)
TEAMS
South Africa:
Graeme Smith, Alviro
Petersen, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Ryan
McLaren, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel
Australia:
David
Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, Steven
Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan
Lyon
UMPIRES
Richard Illingworth (England) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan)
TV umpire: Ian Gould (England)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)
Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on Day 4 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Centurion in Pretoria.
