Player of the Match
Player of the Match
1860dThe Report by Brydon Coverdale

South Africa tighten grip as ball-tampering row erupts

Cameron Bancroft worked on the ball in an incident, which overshadowed the third day's play in Cape Town, where the hosts stretched their lead towards 300

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

D Elgar
D Elgar
141(284) 20x4 - 1x6
Control %85%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 29 runs
  • 4x4 - 0x6
2 16 15 6 38 19 12 33
AK Markram
AK Markram
84(145) 10x4 - 2x6
Control %85%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 19 runs
  • 0x4 - 0x6
8 9 7 9 19 6 7 19

Best performances - Bowlers

M Morkel
M Morkel
O9.4
M3
R23
W5
Eco2.37
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
2W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W1W
PJ Cummins
PJ Cummins
O26
M6
R78
W4
Eco3.00
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
2W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W

Scorecard Summary

SOUTH AFRICA 311(97.5 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

AUSTRALIA 255(69.5 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

SOUTH AFRICA 373(112.2 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

AUSTRALIA 107(39.4 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Andrew Miller

6pm So, that's the end of that. A memorable match, for far too many wrong reasons, but Morne's mayhem this evening has helped to end it with a flourish of proper on-field action.

Thanks for all your feedback. And stay tuned to ESPNcricinfo for all the follow-ups from Cape Town, where you sense the post-mortem to SandpaperGate is only just getting started.

Aniket : "Deliciously fitting that in a match (and series so far) marred with unsavory behaviour and abuse/sledging, a fast bowler who has never felt the need to mouth off/give ugly send offs under the guise of aggression wins the man of the match award. " Yes indeed. There's a nice thought to sign off on. Good night.

Faf du Plessis: "Proper power, Our bowlers in this test match have been amazing. To put the totals on the board in both innings and then bowl them out - Deano and AB have been fantastic. The nature of how the Tests have gone, there are periods when runs can be scored in the first 30-40 overs, but as soon as you get one wicket you can run through them. But a 50-run lead on that wicket was worth more. There was a good battle between bat and ball, but I'm really chuffed for Morne, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

"We are extremely motivated in this series, it was easy for us to tighten the screw on the Australians."

The Man of the Man is Morne Morkel: "I'm a little emotional at the moment, but what an afternoon of cricket. We asked the guys to give it all. I was hoping I could deliver something special. For me, the best thing was to keep working hard on my fitness and hope to get the opportunity. I got the nod and knew I needed to put my hand up as a senior bowler."

Tim Paine: "it's been a horrible 24 hours and I'd like to take the opportunity to apologise to our fans," he says. "From a cricket perspective, today was extremely disappointing, the way we folded in that last 45 minutes. It's been a real challenge for us, we need to turn ourselves into the cricket team we want to be."

"When you are playing against a side as good as South Africa, it's hard to chase the game. Our bowlers have been okay, but our batters have got plenty of starts but no-one's got a hundred. At the end of the day, we have to regroup and put on a show for our fans, families and public."

5.53pm Gonzo: "Subdued game? You have high standards when it comes to interest and excitement!" Well, you know what I mean. The actual cricket was a bit incidental at times in the past two days. Although that final session perked the crowd up no end. 45,000 at Newlands over the four days, incidentally, which is pretty healthy

John: "Perfect match for Morkel, thumbs up to him. Hope he gets a niggle and doesnt come for last test match as I don't see him doing better than this. Not to mention this particular test match will be remembered for a long,long time!!!" He might not get a niggle, but South Africa might get an Ngidi...

5.47pm Edwin DSouza: "Hopefully Morkel will reconsider his retirement from Test cricket on this performance..." Sadly, it's not going to happen. He's 34 this year, and has been a fine servant for more than a decade. But I'm delighted that he's going out on a personal high. A nice upbeat subplot to an otherwise subdued game.

Mark: "Agree with Andrew's call for discussion, so let's begin: 1. Use of solid objects to deform the ball isn't permitted. Makes sense else bowlers will rub the ball on the ground next. 2. Liquids are ok so long as its saliva, sweat. You can't hold a ball in a bucket of water. I suspect Andrew will find these are indeed current rules. What's more to discuss?" Well, the practice of bouncing the balls on the practice wickets when returning shies, for one. Seriously, whose business is that other than the fielders themselves?

Kofi Nkansah: "Thank you for posting David's comment, I was in need of a good laugh. I think all the posts today have been made "within the spirit of the game" and "without crossing the line." Two excellent bits of Australian terminology." Well, we like to headbutt that line here at ESPNcricinfo ...

5.43pm Handshakes and high-fives all round for the South Africa players. They have kept their counsel and their focus in a crazy couple of days, and are now 2-1 up with one to play, and gunning for their first home series win against Australia since readmission...

Graeme: "I think the thing that stands out about Morkel for me isn't no just his outstanding bowling, but the sportsmanship he's shown, he was genuinely concerned when he hit Starc on the head and came up and made sure he was alright, a fantastic man" He's been a mighty presence for South Africa, and what a game for him personally. A career-best nine wickets in the match, including his 300th in Tests. Presentations coming up, I think we've found the man of the match.

david: "Keep on posting the disgusting bias commentary you have been all day. The Aussies have been and still are by FAR the most sporting cricket team around. Maybe like a few facts about the cheating that has gne on in other countries?" Just calling it as we see it, David. But keep the faith

And that, as they say, is that. Australia have lost all ten of their wickets for 50 runs in the space of 19.4 overs. And on a grim day for their cricketers, they have also ensured that England no longer boast the most gruesome Test collapse of the week...

39.4
W
Morkel to Hazlewood, OUT, uppercut, but straight to fly slip! Well positioned, Philander rushed around to pocket the chance and give Morne Morkel a hugely deserved five-for in what might yet be his final Test appearance!

JR Hazlewood c Philander b Morkel 5 (13m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 83.33

39.3
0
Morkel to Hazlewood, no run, sharp once again, much better line, gallumphing into the splice as Hazlewood hops to defend
39.2
4b
Morkel to Hazlewood, 4 byes, short and massively wide of the batsman, and the wicketkeeper! You can't rescue those!

Sammydude: "Painful memory for Paine to debut as Captain." I feel his Paine

39.1
4
Morkel to Hazlewood, FOUR, leaning back, cut up and away through third man, and up comes the hundred!

END OF OVER:
39 | 5 Runs | AUS: 99/9

  • Tim Paine9 (27b)
  • Josh Hazlewood1 (2b)
  • Keshav Maharaj12-2-32-2
  • Morne Morkel9-3-19-4

Nine Nine Nine... which emergency service do you require?

38.6
4
Maharaj to Paine, FOUR, down on one knee for the sweep, and emphatically played. Bouncing away to fine leg
38.5
0
Maharaj to Paine, no run, sliding on past the outside edge, as Paine lines up an ambitious cut. Too full and tight for the shot

ABD's double

5

No. of times AB de Villiers has made two fifty-plus scores in the same Tests, including this match. The last he did so was way back in 2011. SA have lost two of the previous 4 times he scored 50+ in both inns.

Morkel's milestone

300+

Wickets for Morne Morkel in Tests. He has become the fifth for South Africa after Donald, Pollock, Ntini and Steyn to complete 300 wickets.

Elgar carries again

3

No. of times Dean Elgar has carried his bat in a Test inns, including this Test. He equals Desmond Haynes who had also done it three times.

Killing spell

4/8

Pat Cummins' spell in the third session on day one in which he picked up 4 wickets for 8 runs in 8 overs. He rattled through the middle-order dismissing De Villiers, Du Plessis Bavuma and De Kock in that spell.

Faf fails

8.75

Faf du Plessis' average in this series, which is his second-lowest in any Test series. He averaged 8.57 in the series against India in 2015-16 which is his lowest.

ABD's hot form

6

No. of 50+ scores for AB de Villiers in 7 Tests since his return. He averages over 55 in these matches.

Hazlewood again

7

No. of times Hashim Amla has got out to Josh Hazlewood in Tests, in 9 innings. Only Broad has dismissed Amla on more occasions, 8 times in 29 inns.