A brilliant century by Quinton de Kock helped South Africa set a daunting target of 381 for Pakistan to win the third Test here on Sunday.
Quinton de Kock
Johannesburg:
Quinton de Kock saw South Africa stretch its lead passed the 300-run mark on the third morning of the final Castle Lager Test match.
The Proteas went to lunch on 232/7 with De Kock still at the crease on 77 and Kagiso Rabada, who came into bat 10 minutes before the interval on 4.
The highest successful fourth innings chase at this ground was by Australia in 2011, when they chased down 310 in the second Test of a short series that season.
It was a largely comfortable morning for the home team who resumed on 135/5 with the first session’s play a lot more sedate than the pulsating action on Saturday. It was as if everyone was still hungover after day two, and Amla and De Kock were measured in how they set about placing South Africa in a dominant position.
Amla notched up a 41st Test half-century, his innings a stoic effort on a pitch that on Saturday afternoon especially was showing signs of inconsistent bounce. There was less of that on show until the latter stages of the first session on another baking morning in Johannesburg.
Amla and De Kock shared a stand of 102 for the sixth wicket, before Hasan Ali did get one to spit off a length, the ball catching Amla on the gloves giving Sarfraz Ahmed his ninth catch of the match. Amla scored 71, an innings that took him three and three quarter hours in which he faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours.
De Kock was more free flowing, bringing up a 15th Test half-century off only 49 balls, his innings featuring eight beautifully struck boundaries.
Vernon Philander fell shortly before lunch, when Mohammad Amir trapped him lbw for 10, a decision confirmed by third official Bruce Oxenford after the batsman asked for a review.
Brief scores: South Africa 262 and 303 (Quinton de Kock 129, Hashim Amla 71, Faheem Ashraf 3/42, Shadab Khan 3/41) Pakistan 185 and 153/3 in 40 overs (Asad Shafiq 48*, Imam ul Haq 35, Babar Azam 17*, D Steyn 2/37)
The South African wicketkeeper batsman made129 as his team reached 303 all out shortly before tea on the third day. By close of play, Pakistan was fighting with its back to the wall at 153 for three in its second innings needing another 228 runs for a consolation win. Asad Shafiq (48*) and Babar Azam (17*) were at the crease at stumps.
Quinton de Kock saw South Africa stretch its lead passed the 300-run mark on the third morning of the final Castle Lager Test match.
The Proteas went to lunch on 232/7 with De Kock still at the crease on 77 and Kagiso Rabada, who came into bat 10 minutes before the interval on 4.
The highest successful fourth innings chase at this ground was by Australia in 2011, when they chased down 310 in the second Test of a short series that season.
It was a largely comfortable morning for the home team who resumed on 135/5 with the first session’s play a lot more sedate than the pulsating action on Saturday. It was as if everyone was still hungover after day two, and Amla and De Kock were measured in how they set about placing South Africa in a dominant position.
Amla notched up a 41st Test half-century, his innings a stoic effort on a pitch that on Saturday afternoon especially was showing signs of inconsistent bounce. There was less of that on show until the latter stages of the first session on another baking morning in Johannesburg.
Amla and De Kock shared a stand of 102 for the sixth wicket, before Hasan Ali did get one to spit off a length, the ball catching Amla on the gloves giving Sarfraz Ahmed his ninth catch of the match. Amla scored 71, an innings that took him three and three quarter hours in which he faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours.
De Kock was more free flowing, bringing up a 15th Test half-century off only 49 balls, his innings featuring eight beautifully struck boundaries.
Vernon Philander fell shortly before lunch, when Mohammad Amir trapped him lbw for 10, a decision confirmed by third official Bruce Oxenford after the batsman asked for a review.
Brief scores: South Africa 262 and 303 (Quinton de Kock 129, Hashim Amla 71, Faheem Ashraf 3/42, Shadab Khan 3/41) Pakistan 185 and 153/3 in 40 overs (Asad Shafiq 48*, Imam ul Haq 35, Babar Azam 17*, D Steyn 2/37)