South Africa 295-3 against Australia at tea in Perth Test

The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in test cricket was the 418-7 West Indies scored to beat Australia at Antigua in May 2003, while South Africa scored 414-4 to beat their hosts at the WACA in 2008.

South Africa bowling coach Charl Langeveldt didn’t expect the final six wickets would come quickly or easily.

After starring on day four to put South Africa on the brink of a famous victory, it appears the 21-year-old took heed of his coach’s advice.

And the surface, as shown by South Africa’s batsmen over the past couple of days, remains reasonable for batting, despite the presence of a few cracks and the odd ball staying low or rearing up.

The important point about the stand was that it set the stage for the Proteas to win at least five sessions in a row and to drain most of the energy from the Australian attack. “The ball isn’t turning as much.it’s going to be down to our two seamers”, Langeveldt said. “The balls that have misbehaved have been wide”. “This wicket isn’t your traditional sort of Waca wicket – it’s been pretty slow”. Once you get yourself in, it’s a great place to bat.

After Vernon Philander and Quinton de Kock scored fluent half-centuries to set a target of 539 runs, Kagiso Rabada’s three-wicket haul restricted Australia to 169 for four at stumps on day four of the first Test in Perth.

Elgar and Duminy negotiated the opening session despite the ball providing plenty of swing for the Australia seamers.

Duminy was given not out by the on-field umpire, but Australia successfully reviewed the decision to end the 250-run partnership between the left-handed pair.

His career-best 127 came off 316 balls and he had hit 17 fours and one six when Josh Hazlewood finally winkled him out after tea when he offered a exhausted shot and got an edge which Mitchell Starc took at gully.

It was Duminy’s first hundred in 19 innings since his century against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2014. As always he had the bulldog approach rather than the craftsmanship of Duminy and he made a significant contribution when he thumped Australian spinner Nathan Lyon for a succession of boundaries on Friday.

“It’s a responsibility well taken by the rest of the team and the squad, we will want to win the game for Dale”. The ball that removed him followed four brilliant deliveries which pulled him in nearly every direction. “I told him that you will be tested here because Australia play their cricket hard”, he said.

Elgar did not last too long in the evening, though, flashing a poor shot off Josh Hazlewood straight to Starc at gully to end a fine knock in disappointing fashion.

Elgar registered 17 fours and one six in his 316-ball innings, patiently defending the good balls and duly punished the bad ones.