Bavuma, Verreynne fight as Australia take control

Australia is inching closer to a test series win as South Africa sits on 120-4 at lunch on day four of the second test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The hosts picked up three wickets in the morning session as the Proteas still need 266 runs in order to avoid an innings defeat.

Resuming overnight on 15-1, the Proteas looked to pull off a miracle at the MCG as they survived through the first hour without a wicket falling.

However, fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is battling with a finger injury, struck and broke the 47-run partnership between Sarel Erwee and Theunis de Bruyn.

Starc got Erwee with a superb yorker and trapped him on the toe for a successful LBW as the Proteas opener departed for 21 off 41 balls.

De Bruyn, who was dropped by three off Starc on day three, only scored 28 off 68 balls before he edged Scott Boland to second slip, with Steve Smith taking his 150th test catch.

Then, a superb run-out saw the demise of Khaya Zondo as Temba Bavuma pushed for a single to mid-off, but Travis Head was quick to the ball and threw down the stumps at the striker’s end.

Zondo departed for one, leaving South Africa reeling at 65-4.

However, an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne steadied the Proteas ship after a costly morning.

Verreynne comes off the back of a half-century in the first innings and hopes to continue his fine form as Australia need only six wickets to clinch a win.

Bavuma (37*) and Verreynne (27*) will resume in the second session at the MCG as the Proteas fight to stave off a test series defeat.

Australia leads the three-match test series 1-0, with the New Year’s Sydney test still remaining.

Report Day 1Report Day 2Report Day 3

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi