Proteas batsmen give them a fighting chance against Aussies

Brillant and well-laboured centuries by Protea batters Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder gave South Africa a fighting chance at the end of day four of the third and deciding cricket test against Australia in Cape Town.

The Proteas finished the day on 387 all out in their second innings, setting Australia a target of 288 to win the test. Rickelton scored 101 and Mulder 115.

At the start of play the Proteas were on 140 for 4, a lead of just 40 runs. Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke showed patience for most of the morning session and at lunch South Africa were on 202 for 5 with only Breetzke losing his wicket on 43.

After lunch it was the Rickelton and Mulder show and, in that period, they brought up their hundred partnership taking the score to 294 for 5 at tea, and the lead at that stage was 194 runs.

In the last session the pair drove their team’s advantage home and Rickelton scored his century, but a misunderstanding resulted in Rickelton being run out. Their 154-run partnership was vital however in the test.

Rickelton’s departure was followed by a mini collapse, and the Proteas went from 335 for 5 to 351 for 9. Mulder held on and the last man in Kagiso Rabada helped him to reach his century.

Mulder’s wicket brought the day to an end but before that he rubbed further salt in Australian wounds, and the visitors will have a mountain to climb on the final day.