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Live cricket scores: Australia’s Test series against South Africa comes down to final day

The West Australian
Josh Inglis was run out.
Camera IconJosh Inglis was run out. Credit: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Australia’s Test series against South Africa has come down to an epic final day in Cape Town.

With the series on the line, Australia will have to chase down an imposing 288 runs to win on the final day of the series after centuries to Wiann Mulder and Ryan Rickleton dragged South Africa into a strong position.

Spinner Simon Harmer looms as the potential match-winner on a wearing pitch with Australia needing to dig deep.

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Australia pass 100

Australia narrowly avoided some unwanted history as the ball bounces off the shoulder of an attempted Nathan Lyon sweep and runs for four.

Lyon now is the equal top scorer for the innings with 27.

He has a habit of top scoring in Australian batting disasters at Newlands.

Shot of the day

Nathan Lyon stands tall and drives through the covers for a rare boundary.

He followis it up with a pull for two then another push into the off-side for a brace

Australia have only been bowled twice for under 100 six times in history, the last time coming against The West Indies in 1978.

AUS 8-88.

Runs

Bronx cheers as Pat Cummins ends the scoring drought with a single as he continues to do what he can.

Men all around the bat.

Green’s vigil comes to an end

Cam Green loses his head as he tries to break the deadlock.

Having played out 10 straight maidens, he comes down the wicket to Harmer, who rips one through the gate to crash into the top of the off stump.

Brilliant from Harmer as Green falls for 27 off 110 balls.

The crawl continues

This pair have put on just two runs in the 11 overs since lunch, both coming off Green’s outside edge in the first over.

It’s good fight but there’s still more than 50 overs left in the day.

Green digging in

He’s been beaten more than once, but he is hanging tough, having now faced 97 balls for his 27.

Not much more he can do given the situation, but his fight is further cementing his spot in the team and continuing his own recent good form.

AUS 7-62.

Welcome back

Cummins joins Green in the middle after lunch in what will surely be the final session of the series.

Green defends the first few before an outside edge brings him two through gully.

He can’t get off strike off the last

AUS 7-62.

Australia the masters of their own demise

Of the seven wickets to fall, maybe Matt Renshaw is the only one who can feel aggrieved, having tickled one down the leg side off the first ball he faced.

Labuschagne leaving a ball like that was inexcusable, while Head was loose and Green ran Inglis out.

Carey played an inappropriate reverse sweep while Connolly drove at one he could have left, though the ball did at least turn.

Green has offered a modicum of resitence but the forlorn faces of Pat Cummins and co in the dressing room tells who all you need to know.

Starc falls at the stroke of lunch

The premier paceman has taken most of the strike against Harmer as a left-hander.

But an attempted flick from a ball on the legside catches the inside edge and goes off his pad to pip up to Aiden Makram at short leg.

There’s a small delay as umpires check for a bump ball, but there’s no doubt about it.

Completes a disastrous session for Australia as they finish 6-70.

Green is unbeaten on 23.

Second ball duck for Connolly

For the first time today, an Australian batter has fallen to a good ball, though Connolly could have easily left it.

Tossed up outside off to invite the drive, Connolly goes at it as the ball grips and turns to catch the edge through to Rickleton.

Starc suvives the last two balls to complete a double wicket maiden for Harmer.

Australia 6-42.

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