South Africa were in danger of losing the series today. Instead, Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder made superb, methodical centuries to take them to 387 all out. I still have no idea who are the favourites, but we should get a positive result one way or the other.

Thanks for your company and emails, and sorry again for my addled state. Geoff’s report will be here shortly, and he’ll be back for the start of day five. It could be a classic.

134th over: South Africa 387-9 (Mulder 115, Rabada 2) Make that four sixes for Mulder, who has just dumped Lyon over the leg side and into the crowd. Time for one more over. When they resumed on 140 for 4, South Africa couldn’t have imagined they would still be batting at the close.

133rd over: South Africa 380-9 (Mulder 108, Rabada 2) A length ball from Cummins is boffed over backward square leg for six by Mulder. That’s a helluva shot, his third six of the innings, and he keeps the strike with a single off the fifth delivery.

131st over: South Africa 369-9 (Mulder 98, Rabada 2) Mulder again takes a single off the fourth ball of the over, and Rabada takes care of business without alarm.

Some of the commentators think South Africa should declare, which makes no sense when their lead is only 269.

“Cordially disagree with Roland Marshall,” begins Phil Harrison. “270 is a really tough chase for anyone, let alone a team who have been batting like Australia have and who are missing their best player. A Travis Head special changes things obviously, but to me, this feels like SA’s to lose now. What a game though. Nothing like Test cricket is there?”

It’s the best thing that has ever happened to anyone, ever.

130th over: South Africa 368-9 (Mulder 97, Rabada 2) Mulder again takes a single off the fourth ball, this time with Lyon the bowler, and Rabada does the necessary thereafter.

“Afternoon Rob,” writes Eddy Nason. “Fascinated that you went for Neil Finn when Catatonia (Mulder and Scully) were right there... was it an Homage to Neil’s long lost brother Steve?”

My brain is not the most sophisticated organ - it’s literally because, for no particular reason, I’ve had that Neil Finn song on loop the last few days. (But while we’re here, Steven Finn is one of my favourite punduits and you should all read his book.)

129th over: South Africa 367-9 (Mulder 96, Rabada 2) Cummins, on for Starc, is pulled expertly for four by Mulder. Another pull for a single takes him to 96 and leaves Rabada with two balls to survive.

“Hi Rob,” writes Roland Marshall. “Though there’s a lot of cricket still to be played, the cheap wickets of Jansen and Harmer have the feeling of being more than pivotal here: both could have taken the game away from the Aussies with a sufficiently controlled bit of humpty. One would think that Australia are now in the ascendancy, especially with the prospect of Travis Head doing one of his fourth-innings yahoos.

“By the way, all the best with toiling through the OBO stricken; I did something similar about fifteen years ago, translating the live feed in real-time for a sporting event, with the flu. Because I was working on the back office of the event’s IT system and every update came with a helpful ‘ting!’ I was able to do micro-naps between each entry. Bit more difficult for your good self, what with having to keep your eyes open and watch stuff.”

Ah, thank you. Even when I’m sick as a dog, and I most certainly am, I know how lucky I am to do this job!

128th over: South Africa 362-9 (Mulder 91, Rabada 2) Mulder slog-sweeps Lyon for six to move into the nineties. Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!

This has been an innings of admirable substance. I must confess, from afar I thought Mulder was a bits-and-pieces player but he has proved me wrong in this series with bat and ball

127th over: South Africa 355-9 (Mulder 84, Rabada 2) Mulder turns down a single, then pulls Starc round the corner for one. I think he thought it was going for two or even four.

Starc knocks himself off his feet, Mark Wood-style, before being chipped for two by Rabada. There are certainly worse No11s in world cricket.

“I won’t often get the chance for a pun to fit this snugly,” begins Mike Morris. “So: poor old Rickelton fell victim to a case of Mulder and scurry.

“And with that I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

126th over: South Africa 352-9 (Mulder 83, Rabada 0) Mulder takes a single to keep strike. South Africa lead by 252. What a belter of a game!

125th over: South Africa 347-8 (Mulder 78, Coetzee 1) Starc is one away from his fifth ten-for in Tests. He almost gets it when Coetzee gloves a unpleasant delivery over the head of Head at short leg. South Africa lead by 247.

124th over: South Africa 346-8 (Mulder 77, Coetzee 1) “Albert Edward Trott was the man who hit the six,” says Tom Barrington. “Sure this will be a footnote in the carnage unfolding though!”

123rd over: South Africa 344-7 (Mulder 76, Harmer 1) That was Starc’s ninth wicket of the match. He’s the dictionary definition of a champion fast bowler.

“I don’t remember who it was, but didn’t an English batsman once play at Lord’s with a bout of malaria?” asks Anthony Bradley. “Came in before lunch on the first day, could barely see the ball, so decided to hit through the line and hit a six over the pavilion. It being Lord’s, no-one applauded for the rash shot. I think he went on to make a ton, having spent the lunch interval gulping brandy.”

Was that W Mitty RHB LBG? (I jest. It may well be true, I just can’t recall it in my current state.)

122nd over: South Africa 342-6 (Mulder 75, Jansen 0) Lyon is back on for Labuschagne. His last ball to Jansen turns and takes pad, possibly bat, before flying past short leg. No dice.

“Where on earth are we in this game?” sniffs Will Ellen. “I can’t figure it out. Both teams want to win. Both teams still can. All four results are still possible. South Africa would love six or seven overs at the Aussies before the end, but I cant see them declaring, or Bazballing themselves out. Travis Head is the joker in the pack that scares any team from dangling too tasty a carrot... so there’s so much to weigh up here.

“A bit like Gary Cooper’s High Noon, the role of time is very much coming into consideration here.”

Spot on. I feel like either team could win comfortably and it would make sense, which is pretty unusual.

121st over: South Africa 340-6 (Mulder 74, Jansen 0) Mulder pulls Hazlewood majestically for four. Mad to say, for a man who almost broke Brian Lara’s record, but this might be his best Test innings.

“Hello Rob,” says Tim Sanders. “Talking of Eddie Paynter, as we were, he merits a place on the list of great Test performances in spite of illness. It was on the third day of the fourth Test at Brisbane, on the Bodyline tour, when he came straight from hospital to bat No8 and win the Ashes.”

120th over: South Africa 336-6 (Mulder 70, Jansen 0) “In the matter of best Test performances despite illness,” begins Stuart Middleton, “Garry Sobers’s century against England in 1973, completed in the midst of what was reportedly a hangover of epic proportions, must be pretty high on the list.”

See also: Botham, Sir Ian, in the Jubilee Test.

118th over: South Africa 327-5 (Rickelton 98, Mulder 64) And now Marnus is back! He’s turning it a fair bit, particularly to the left-handed Rickelton, who thick-edges a single round the corner to move to 98.

Mulder laps and sweeps consecutive deliveries for four to lift South Africa’s lead to 227. At the start of play they were effectively 40 for 4.

117th over: South Africa 318-5 (Rickelton 97, Mulder 56) Hazlewood comes on to replace Cummins. Apologies, I’m really struggling here. There’s a hint of reverse swing, which was so important in the first Test, but Mulder shows good judgement of what to leave and what to defend. One from the over.

117th over: South Africa 317-5 (Rickelton 96, Mulder 56) Rickelton drives Head down the ground for a single to move to 96. He’s been in the nineties for ten overs, but there’s no sign yet of nervousness.

115th over: South Africa 315-5 (Rickelton 95, Mulder 55) Apologies, I had to run to the bathroom during that over – I don’t think we missed anything of note.

114th over: South Africa 312-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 53) Travis Head comes on for Nathan Lyon. Mulder drives him for four to bring up a fine half-century from 138 balls. South Africa were under so much pressure when he came to the crease, but he has played beautifully.

113th over: South Africa 307-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 48) Cummins tries to tempt Rickelton, who needs six for his hundred, into something injudicious by floating a few tempters outside off stump. Rickelton isn’t interested and it’s another maiden.

“You wondered how Starc has managed to get even better at this stage of his career,” writes Ian. “Could it be that multi-format cricket makes batters worse at facing certain types of Test bowling? As with most things in life, it’s probably a bit of both. I’m looking forward to seeing him in England next summer, hopefully not being as deadly.”

It feels like Test batting is weaker than it has been for a long time, but I also think Starc’s improvement outstrips that trend. Wobble-seam has made a big difference.

112th over: South Africa 307-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 48) Lyon continues to wheel away without success: his figures are 38-10-77-1. Very tidy, but Australia need more in that final column.

“Hi Rob,” writes Tom Paternoster-Howe. “You asked in over 109 how do you take 350+ Test wickets then get better in your mid-30s. Isn’t that a question you should direct to Jimmy Anderson, one of the few men who could actually answer it with any knowledge? I understand he’s got a bit of free time nowadays, so might have time to answer!”

When I’m awake at 4am, one thought distracts me more than any other: had England picked Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson last winter, they might have won the Ashes.

111th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) Starc off, Cummins on. He bowls a maiden to Rickelton, who tries to pull a leg-side bumper and is beaten. Careful now.

“Is there an argument for SA to try and push on a little now?” wonders Phil Harrison. “Australia have been in the field for 108 overs, the second new ball is 28 overs old and Jansen is in next. Time to reverse the pressure?”

There’s certainly an argument for that. I think I’d keep playing at a natural tempo – especially as the next man in is Marco Jansen, who will score quickly if he spends any time at the crease. It’s beautifully poised.

110th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) A maiden from Lyon to Mulder.

“Is this your equivalent of Michael Jordan’s flu game?” asks Daniel McDonald. “OBOing a great test match despite terrible indisposition. What are the best Test performances despite illness? Dean Jones in the tied Test springs to mind.”

I’m not that bad. Are we talking illness and injury, or just the former? Either way, Dean Jones – “you weak Victorian” – is right up there. Rick McCosker and Anil Kumble batting with a broken jaw come to mind if we’re including injuries.

109th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) A beautiful bouncer from Starc whistles past Rickelton’s nose. Australia haven’t taken a wicket since the morning session but know that one could bring two, three, even five.

Since the start of 2025, Starc has taken 86 wickets at 18 apiece. How do you take 350+ Test wickets and then become even better in your mid-30s?

108th over: South Africa 303-5 (Rickelton 92, Mulder 46) “Poor Robbie,” writes Robbie Robert Wilson. “There’s nothing ersatz about your Gary Coopertude. You’re our idéal maximal, our archétype, notre chevalier errant. You’re Aragorn with a bargain haircut and a decent forward defensive. We all model ourselves on you.

“I’m very sorry about your Covid glums. Since (remarkably) no one trusts vaccines any more you could always start smoking or get pregnant (both bizarrely protected populations). Just a suggestion.

“This is an absolutely wonderful match. I continue to maintain that it’s all about the pitch. I just don’t know how or why. It’s still an insight, buddy.”

This is me right now. No, the left.

107th over: South Africa 302-5 (Rickelton 91, Mulder 46) Rickelton steers Starc past gully for four to move into the nineties. Then he has a moment of fortune when a length delivery keeps low, hits the bottom of the bat and deflects just past the stumps. Rickelton fell over himself but went backwards rather than towards the poles.

“If we’re talking four-man attacks, what about Harmison, Hoggard, Jones, Flintoff?” says Andrew Cosgrove. “People went on about Vaughan’s captaincy, but it must be fairly easy to look like a good captain if your available options is to bring one of those four on.”

That’s true, though I reckon his man-management got the best out of at least three of them. I think Harmison called Vaughan “the best liar I ever played with”, and it was meant as a compliment.

106th over: South Africa 297-5 (Rickelton 86, Mulder 46) This is Mulder’s highest score since his 367 not out against Zimbabwe last year, and the fifth-highest of his 27-Test career. In context it is such a valuable innings. South Africa were in all sorts, effectively 81 for 5, when he came to the crease.

“I think Stephen Fleming could be an excellent foil to many of this England Test team,” writes Guy Hornsby. “I still find so much of the opprobrium towards Brook baffling as time goes on. Bazball allowed him to be ultra-aggressive, but it’s hardly like he can only play one way. We’ve seen lately in white-ball cricket how destructive he can be but the shots he plays aren’t that frenetic any more. They’re calculating and brilliant.

“He’s a generational talent, and I’ve accepted this is how he is. But Fleming can accentuate playing the situation, and feels like a good fit. We’ll find out soon enough because playing this team at home is going to be a huge task. They’ve rebuilt superbly, and Australia look a little short of ideas. Another 100 and they will feel very happy with where they are.”

105th over: South Africa 296-5 (Rickelton 85, Mulder 46) Mitchell Starc replaces Marnus Labuschagne and digs in a few short balls to Mulder, who politely ignores a couple and then misses a slightly frivolous pull.

“Why are we taking about Harry Brook?” asks Adam Foster. “Love him, but I have paid no attention to the tri-series while this has been on. There is just no comparison to a tight series and a five-day decider, regardless of who you support (SA of course). We cannot lose this. Magic.”

I just cut and paste the emails. But yes, I agree, Test cricket is the purest form of sport in the whole wide world. Imagine if this was a five-Test series!

104th over: South Africa 295-5 (Rickelton 84, Mulder 46) Nathan Lyon returns to the attack after tea, slip and short leg in place for Rickelton, who waves a single off the final ball of the over to keep strike. Sheesh he’s played well.

“This Australian attack must be the best balanced and most accomplished four-bowler unit for the ages?” says Brian Withington. “Obviously Warne and McGrath were peerless, but I’d put both Cummins and Hazelwood ahead of Lee and Gillespie, never mind the X-factor of the left armed Starc. And Lyon right up there as a top-drawer finger spinner.”

If you exclude the 1980s West Indies on the grounds of balance, I guess Australia are the attack with the strongest weak link. Brett Lee was bloody good, terrifying at times, but ultimately he averaged over 30. Mind you, do does Nathan Lyon. I can see both sides!

(I think you underestimate Gillespie btw – at his best, from 1997 t0 2004, he was a monster.)

The evening session

The players are wandering back onto the field. By the way, I should apologise for the relative poverty of today’s coverage – I’m sick as a dog (weirdly, this being the year 2026, I think I have Covid for the first time) but am soldiering on like an ersatz Gary Cooper.

“It’s wild how dismissive and almost scornful so many England supporters routinely are of Harry Brook,” writes Phil Harrison. “He averages 53 after 41 Tests ffs. Everyone gets out. Do these weirdos not expect him to play a shot in anger?”

I can understand the frustration, because a computer-game version of Brook could average 70 in Tests. But as with his spiritual forefather, Kevin Pietersen, I’m just grateful to watch an unfettered genius at work.

102nd over: South Africa 293-5 (Rickelton 82, Mulder 46) Mulder top-edges a slog-sweep off Head that lands safely and brings two runs. Australia have always produced a higher class of partnership breaker – Greg Bloody Blewett – and their occasional spinners look surprisingly menacing.

101st over: South Africa 291-5 (Rickelton 82, Mulder 44) And now it’s time for Marnus, the leg-spinning version. He gets a couple of deliveries to really rip from outside the left-hander’s off stump. Rickelton plays one good cut for two but that was a promising over for Australia.

100th over: South Africa 288-5 (Rickelton 80, Mulder 43) Cummins continues to roll the dice, brings Travis Head into the attack. Four singles form a low-key over.

“The sheer resilience of these two teams stands in stark/Starc contrast to what England often serve up in similar situations,” writes Julian Menz. “There have been a few Rourke’s Drift performances to be fair, but chances are we’d be seeing Brook flattering to deceive, holing out for 30-odd. How deeply has Bazball penetrated English cricket’s DNA, despite the encouraging cameos of ‘proper batting’ of late.

“As for Starc (you saw what I did there)….a large part of resilience is the ability to attack, to make it easier for those doing the hard graft to be, well, resilient.”

I still think history will be kind to Bazball, however shambolically it ended. But it’ll be fascinating to see them adopt a more streetwise approach under Stephen Fleming.

99th over: South Africa 284-5 (Rickelton 78, Mulder 41) Mulder is cut in half by a good delivery from Hazlewood. Australia asked for caught behind but it came straight off the thigh. Mulder brings up the hundred partnership with a controlled pull behind square for four. He’s an easy to cricket to underrate, Wiaan Mulder, but I bet his teammates are grateful to have him in their corner.

“If Lyon gets dropped, who takes over?” asks Jurie Schoeman. “It’s not like they’ve prepared a successor, Kuhnemann? Murphy seemed like for like, but for some reason not backed?”

Yeah, that’s the thing. You’ll probably have more knowledge than me, but I really liked the look of Murphy – his skill and his temperament – in the 2023 Ashes. It’s such a huge call to retire Lyon, especially with a tour of India coming up. I can’t see it happening unless his form drops off completely.

98th over: South Africa 280-5 (Rickelton 78, Mulder 37) Cooper Connolly comes on to bowl, with a slip and short leg for Rickelton. Two singles from a pretty accurate over. South Africa lead by Luke Littler’s favourite score.

“Travis Head is the key to this game,” says Phil Harrison. “If he gets going, Australia could probably chase 300. If he gets out cheaply SA probably have enough already.”

Too soon, Phil. It was only 11 months ago!

97th over: South Africa 278-5 (Rickelton 77, Mulder 36) Hazlewood returns and is pulled smoothly for two by Rickelton, who is batting with such authority. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Hazlewood sorted him out in both innings of the first Test.

“A question I’m finding surprisingly difficult to answer,” says Daniel McDonald. “If it all came down to it, which attack would you prefer: McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Warne; or Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Lyon?”

This may be old-man nostalgia but, as much as I love the cartel, I’d take the first lot every time. Lee is probably the weakest (relatively – I’m not volunteering to face him, now never mind in 2002-03) of the eight, but Dizzy was a giant and McGrath and Warne would be in my all-time World Test XI.

96th over: South Africa 272-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 33) Mulder waves Renshaw through extra cover for a couple. It would have been four but for a terrific sliding stop by Cummins.

Renshaw has an LBW enquiry rejected after getting one to turn extravagantly from outside off; Simon Harmer will have enjoyed that.

95th over: South Africa 269-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Cummins has a leg slip in place for Rickelton, who ignores the balls outside leg stump – one of which yields two byes – and defends the straight ones. This pair have been together for almost 30 overs now.

“Hello Rob,” writes Gervase Greene. “There’s been plenty of attention on Marnus Labuschagne’s precarious position, but I think Nathan Lyon’s future is almost as shaky.

“After a poor first Test, and being dropped for the second, his bowling has so far been patchy at best. Throughout his career he’s been (sometimes harshly) judged for not wrapping up enough fourth innings… but this wicket is doing more than enough to justify a nation’s expectations.

“And boy will he be aware of that.”

I didn’t realise he was quite so old – he turns 39 next month. I guess he’s desperate to do the last lap and win in South Africa and/or India and/or England, but maybe it’ll be taken out of his hands.

94th over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Matt Renshaw replaces Lyon and has an appeal for a bat-pad catch turned down. The ball gripped and missed both inside edge and glove. A good over from Renshaw, another maiden.

“Why is Renshaw getting a twirl please?” asks Eamonn Maloney. “Not because he should be behind Head in the part-time pecking order but because we’ve got a second spinner, an all-rounder picked ostensibly in part for his bowling… or is he a part-timer too? If so, he should be picked on the strength of his batting and be in the top six?? He’s bowled three of the 94.”

It’s a very English selection, though we usually do it in South Asia rather than South Africa.

93rd over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Rickelton flashes at Cummins and is beaten. A maiden.

92nd over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) A rare full ball from Lyon is scrunched down the ground for four by Rickelton. Lovely shot. He’s playing seriously well.

“Clouds gathering ominously overhead, barely a breath of wind to blow them away,” says Duncan Bonnett. “Luckily, I’m in Joburg, so no chance of it affecting the cricket. So, here’s the deal: if we’re still batting at tea, it’ll be a great comeback and put the match back in the balance, although still pretty much in Australia’s favour.

“If we can bat for an hour after tea, with some lusty swinging from Jansen et al, it’s pretty even. However, one big partnership from the Aussies, and it’s all over. So, we need to bat until halfway through the evening session, then get at least three wickets, maybe four before the close. Not gonna happen, is it?”

91st over: South Africa 261-5 (Rickelton 69, Mulder 29) Mulder squirts Cummins through point for a couple. Cummins decides to go to the short-ball ploy, which has worked so well in this series. Mulder takes it on and gets a single to long leg. South Africa lead by 161.

“That blitskrieg by Starc on day one is probably undervalued,” writes George van Zijl. “Add another 50 runs for SA to this total and we have a big game on, perhaps even advantage SA.”

90th over: South Africa 257-5 (Rickelton 68, Mulder 26) A maiden from Lyon to Mulder, who is playing a vital hand at No7. He has 26 from 67 balls, Rickelton a very neat 68 from 136.

“A lot of talk that 200 will be a lot to chase but is the wicket really that tricky?” asks Graeme Burton. “Lyon is bowling well without breaking through and the seamers are not looking particularly threatening. 200+ is tough in the fourth dig no matter the pitch but I dont think SA are that far ahead yet. What do you think?”

My instinct is that anything over 200 will be tricky, though I’m basing that more on historical precedent than this particular pitch.

Thanks Geoff, hello everyone. After two ultimately one-sided games, the series decider has developed into the most compelling arm-wrestle. Ryan Rickelton has a highest Test score of 259, against Pakistan last year, but in context this could become his best innings.

89th over: South Africa 257-5 (Rickelton 68, Mulder 26) The Rickelton cover drive again! This one more conventional. Cummins the bowler, but it doesn’t matter. Cummins pulls the length back a notch, puts everything into finding some seam movement, and there is just a touch. A scintilla. An iota. But the work required to get it is notable. Rickelton is beaten by one that goes away, then leaves one that nibbles back. Tight line to the off stump, length not full enough to hit it though, and Rickelton is this confident now.

With that, it is time for the drinks break, and with the drinks break, it is time for Rob Smyth, rubbing his little hands together with glee like a raccoon about to dive into a bin.

88th over: South Africa 252-5 (Rickelton 64, Mulder 25) Not much in the way of attack against Rickelton now. Most of the catchers have been sent to sun in the fields of their youth. Only short leg remains. Around, the lone and level sands stretch far away.

87th over: South Africa 252-5 (Rickelton 64, Mulder 25) This is creeping into Advantage South Africa territory. Even if a wicket falls now, a Jansen flurry can take their lead from 150 past 200, and 200 will take some getting. Rickelton shows his growing confidence with a handsome cover drive from Starc, not an overpitched ball but on the up. There’s been very little lateral movement from this pitch all match.

86th over: South Africa 246-5 (Rickelton 59, Mulder 24) Lyon gets the new ball now, with the hope that it will give him more bounce. He is a bounce bowler. He’s bowling well, too, lots of loop and drop. Gets one that jumps at Mulder, beats the edge, hits the pad, loops up to leg slip. There’s no one there, and no touch on the ball, but the batter had little idea what was happening.

85th over: South Africa 244-5 (Rickelton 58, Mulder 24) Has to react quickly to Starc’s bounce and pace, but Rickelton is able to deflect his cut shot behind point for two, then gloves a ball down for a run to the leg side. I wouldn’t fancy wearing Starc’s pace on the gloves. That hurt Rickelton too, he’s shaking his fingers at the other end with the glove off.

84th over: South Africa 241-5 (Rickelton 55, Mulder 24) He’s building here! Ryan Rickelton is saying, I have the discipline today but I have the shots as well. Produces another of those, driving Hazlewood gloriously through wide long off.

83rd over: South Africa 236-5 (Rickelton 50, Mulder 24) Jaffa from Starc! Line tight to the off stump, hard length that rises at Mulder, and the seam movement takes the ball away. Mulder lucky to be beaten. Then lucky to get four. Another drive, a big edge and the new ball flies away through the gap.

81st over: South Africa 230-5 (Rickelton 49, Mulder 19) The shiny varnished Kooka flies out of the box. You don’t imagine you’ll see anything like Starc produced on evening one, because that was in cloudy conditions late in the day, and right now it’s sunny with a breeze across the ground, but one never knows. The umpire has held onto the new ball for now, Starc begins the 81st over with the old one. Sends down one loosener, then asks Ump Illy for the new one. But wastes it first up, on the hip and glanced for four. Was looking for swing into the right handed Mulder, but started too straight and too short. Now goes across him. Then has Mulder driving in the air! But it doesn’t go to hand, it goes for three.

80th over: South Africa 222-5 (Rickelton 48, Mulder 16) Last one before the newy, and Rick-Ry takes the single early in his preferred style. Mulder attacks again, seeing width outside off, and a very wristy square drive, a Kohli style hockey snap of the wrists, but where Kohli usually uses that movement to play the ball through long on, Mulder turns his wrists around so that goes in a different direction by 90 degrees, through cover point. Some shot.

79th over: South Africa 216-5 (Rickelton 47, Mulder 11) The Patented Rickelton Strike Rotator is into effect again, cutting Lyon behind point. At which stage, Mulder says, singles be damned. Smotes Lyon for six! Full enough for the shot, and Mulder picks it up with a lofted on-drive over wide long on. Lyon changes to bowling around the wicket for the right-hander, and immediately has him in jeopardy to the ball straightening down the line of the stumps, Mulder made to work hard to keep a couple out.

78th over: South Africa 209-5 (Rickelton 46, Mulder 5) Renshaw with another, and reward for Rickelton’s patience as he gets a shorter one that sits up nicely enough to be whipped away through square leg. Four runs, and a single to follow, he has kept the singles coming even if Mulder has not yet.

77th over: South Africa 204-5 (Rickelton 41, Mulder 5) One run from Lyon’s over. They’re both playing him off the back foot a lot, and he looks like he’s in the game when that happens, pads right in front of stumps, catchers waiting. Just the one wicket for Lyon so far this innings, he needs to deliver on this sense of menace.

76th over: South Africa 203-5 (Rickelton 40, Mulder 5) Don’t get out in the over before lunch? Tick. Don’t get out in the over after lunch? Tick. Call him Ryan Tickelton. Defending stoutly. It might seem incongruous to have Renshaw as the post-prandial bowler, but he’s ticking off a last couple of overs before the second new ball.

75th over: South Africa 202-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Starc for a second over, annoyed with an extra walk-back and run-up as Mulder pulls out. And if he was annoyed the first time, imagine the second time. Consecutive balls. Starc can’t blame the batter too much though, because the second time was about the towel falling out of the bowler’s waistband. Nasty bouncer, once he’s finally allowed to bowl. Mulder glides the next away, wants a single but Rickelton ignores him, and Mulder isn’t impressed. Might be in the hangry zone with lunch looming. So is Starc, who gets stuck into Mulder about running on the pitch. It’s a preoccupation of Starc’s in recent times, with a few batters, he gets stroppy about that.

It doesn’t get him a wicket though. One no-ball in the over, and that is that.

74th over: South Africa 201-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Australia think they have Rickelton’s wicket! Absolutely convinced. But they’re wrong. Renshaw is the bowler, spinner. There’s a huge puff of dust from the ball pitching outside the off stump, and that dust is stirred up again as the toe of the bat clips the ground, I think, or just whooshes through that dust cloud. The ball ends up at slip, but the deflection was not from the outside edge of the bat. Big Rick survives. Big Ren bowls a maiden.

73rd over: South Africa 201-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Starc back for Cummins, which is interesting, as he’ll be the new-ball operator, surely. Maybe just two overs here, for something different, then a quick break? Rickelton flashes him away to deep third. Mulder drives at him and nearly edges. That’s the left-arm angle to a right-hander.

72nd over: South Africa 200-5 (Rickelton 38, Mulder 5) They’re a hundred to the good! A single from Lyon completes that. An appeal against Mulder as he pads the ball away, but manages to keep the gloves clear.

71st over: South Africa 199-5 (Rickelton 37, Mulder 5) Rickelton is playing Cummins to the leg side really well, the bowler over the wicket to the lefty, and a bit too full, allowing the batter to go back down the ground again.

70th over: South Africa 194-5 (Rickelton 32, Mulder 5) Lyon is ragging it. Every time he hits that rough patch outside off stump, it turns big. Back in and nearly bowls Mulder, hits Carey again and bounces away, Mulder had no idea where that ball was going. Threatening for South Africa now, but it increases the urgency with which the Australians need to get through this innings. Harmer will have plenty to work with in defending a target. The lead is 94.

69th over: South Africa 194-5 (Rickelton 32, Mulder 5) Comical misfield from Green, as Rickelton punches through point. He’s chasing, he slides, and then the slide just stops. Holds up in the grass. He throws out one huge arm to try to grab the ball just inside the rope, but his fingertips can’t drag it in. Cummins concedes four.

68th over: South Africa 189-5 (Rickelton 28, Mulder 4) Four catchers around the bat for Mulder, though he turns things over well enough. Rickelton ups the ante to end the over, a full ball at leg stump that he drives very nicely, straight, just to the on side of straight, for four.

67th over: South Africa 182-5 (Rickelton 24, Mulder 1) New man Wiaan Mulder is off the mark in quick time, pushing to midwicket.

66th over: South Africa 181-4 (Breetzke 43, Rickelton 24) There he goes! Breetzke plays the shot that Bavuma played last night, except that he hits it. The result is four to the midwicket boundary, a standing slog sweep across the line. Then a single to raise the fifty stand. They’re batted really well, done some hard work, and have room to make the most of that for a while until the second new ball creates new challenges. Almost a strange dismissal for Rickelton though! Pads the ball away from outside leg, but holds his bat up at shoulder height, and the ball comes up and hits that bat. Luckily for him the rebound drops safely towards point, not to a fielder.

65th over: South Africa 176-4 (Breetzke 39, Rickelton 24) Cummins to the right-hander. Two slips, quite staggered. And finally the scoring dam lets through a little water. Overpitched a touch, and Breetzke drives through extra cover for four. Drives again, straighter now, so Cummins gets fingertips to it and deflects it to mid off, no run.

64th over: South Africa 171-4 (Breetzke 34, Rickelton 24) Lyon now over the wicket to Rickelton, who is kicking away everything he can that pitches outside his leg stump, as a left-hander. The grind continues.

63rd over: South Africa 171-4 (Breetzke 34, Rickelton 24) Pat Cummins to give things a go after the break, and his surprise ball is that he doesn’t bowl a bouncer. Not one. Not in a whole over. Is he feeling alright? He’s enduring his longest wicketless stretch in his career, since last taking one in Durban, though he bowled excellently yesterday.

62nd over: South Africa 171-4 (Breetzke 34, Rickelton 24) Edged and hits the keeper! Not a chance, really, hits Carey on the pad too low to catch, off the inside edge as Breetzke comes forward. The ricochet doesn’t go to hand, even with all those catchers grouped around. A drinks break arrives, for all to recompose themselves.

61st over: South Africa 170-4 (Breetzke 33, Rickelton 24) I lied about the quicks bowling half these overs, because Cooper Connolly will bowl at least one of them. Might only be one, as he starts with a drag-down that Breetzke cuts through cover for four. Connolly is a left-arm ortho with a first-class bowling record that barely exists, yet is discussed in Test terms as an all-rounder. One of life’s great mysteries. Five singles later, and his over has gone for nine.

60th over: South Africa 161-4 (Breetzke 26, Rickelton 22) Not an easy over for Rickelton to face, a maiden from Lyon. Edges one ball into his leg, misses another while stepping across and trying to whip to the leg side, hopping about on one leg and nearly falling over trying to keep it out of his pads.

59th over: South Africa 161-4 (Breetzke 26, Rickelton 22) Another tidy over from Hazlewood, not creating any threat though as yet. Goes the short ball a couple of times, that is probably method number one for the Australian quicks right now, with 21 overs to go until the new ball. Lyon will bowl half of those, so it’s up to the fast men to find some way of applying pressure with the rest.

58th over: South Africa 159-4 (Breetzke 25, Rickelton 21) Huge shout for Lyon against Breetzke, hit him outside the line but he had his bat tucked behind pad. Not sure if the umpire said he was playing a shot or no. Australia only have one review left, so they don’t chance it on whether that Lyon ball was turning back enough. I say no, at a glance.

57th over: South Africa 158-4 (Breetzke 24, Rickelton 21) I’m really enjoying seeing the South Africans fight out some good overs, and leave scoring to later. Hazlewood to Rickelton, had his number in Durban when Rickelton was opening, but he’s now the keeper in the middle order, and he’s determined not to make a mistake. Defends the entire over with laser focus.

56th over: South Africa 158-4 (Breetzke 24, Rickelton 21) Lyon with four fielders in a star formation around the right-handed Breetzke, and you sense that Lyon is where the persistent menace will be. Big turn, and a few little yelps and murmurs from the fielders as Breetzke isn’t far from popping one up.

55th over: South Africa 157-4 (Breetzke 24, Rickelton 20) Hazlewood on for a jam roll. Rickelton doesn’t play him badly, tries to go as gently at the ball as possible, so when an edge is found, it rolls away for a couple of runs. The South African have been good this morning, haven’t tried to force the pace like their top order did yesterday to the team’s detriment.

54th over: South Africa 154-4 (Breetzke 24, Rickelton 17) The left-hander keeps chopping Lyon behind point, a run there, then Breetzke plays tip-and-run to mid on. Umpire Illingworth scolds him for running down the middle of the pitch, but it was a tight one, he might have been out had be detoured to the side. Not that you’re allowed to traipse up and down the centre of the strip all day, even with that excuse. You get leeway on one of those, then probably a warning on the next.

Match calculations here are easy: South Africa’s lead is their score minus 100. They lead by 54.

53rd over: South Africa 151-4 (Breetzke 23, Rickelton 15) Starc goes around the wicket to Breetzke, and is going at him. The batter is getting drawn into the conflict, a bit of lip flying back and forth. Starc is bowling rapidly, and that angle into the right hander can be difficult. Breetzke negotiates the over, defending and ducking where he can, but Starc looks dangerous. No runs.

52nd over: South Africa 151-4 (Breetzke 23, Rickelton 15) There they go! Rickelton gets a ball from Lyon that is not exactly short, but the batter gets back and leans away to make the length and the width he wants, cuts behind point for four. One good partnership and this could very much be South Africa’s day.

“Morning Geoff. Fire up the CRUCIAL FIRST SESSION machine, this really will decide the match. I’m wondering, do you think South Africa missed a trick with only one frontline spinner here? Given the turn and it only getting more exaggerated through the game, Lyon is backed up by Connolly and Renshaw? Coetzee hasn’t really fired - yet - so you wonder what Maharaj could’ve done here...”

Morning, Guy Hornsby. I think they got burned by two spinners at Durban and were never going to return to it here. But with enough runs, Harmer should be able to do most of the job alone, and Markram can support if necessary.

51st over: South Africa 147-4 (Breetzke 23, Rickelton 11) Starc off his long, long run, turning on the advertising cloths that are pegged to the turf. Length ball, bouncer, then Rickelton gets a thick outside edge to deep point and is able to take a run. Breetzke carries on defending from the crease, then hops about, thinks about picking up the ball. Don’t do it, Matthew. There’s a fair bit of chat going on out there too, Starc with that broad smile he uses when he’s needling somebody. He’s quite an innocuous chat merchant usually, doesn’t have that particular dog in him.

50th over: South Africa 146-4 (Breetzke 23, Rickelton 10) Breetzke has to dive into his ground going through for a single, after getting in a tangle with Lyon as the batter set off from the non-striker’s end. That could have been an interesting one, had the throw hit the stumps. Probably home. Rickelton gets that run, Breetzke adds a couple more, but the top-edged sweep is not a sustainable method against this bowler.

49th over: South Africa 143-4 (Breetzke 21, Rickelton 9) Lyon and Starc will be the opening combo. Starc took 6-72 in the first innings, and has 2-29 so far this time around. He only had a couple of 10-wicket matches in a long career until recently, then added two more within the past 12 months. Another one is in the frame if he’s good enough.

Breetzke scrambles a semblance of a shot against a short ball, deflecting a single from a tangle of gloves. Rickelton plays with more elan, steering to backward point in the deep.

48th over: South Africa 141-4 (Breetzke 20, Rickelton 8) It will be Nathan Lyon to start things off, from the end where he knocked over Bavuma in the second-last over last night. Early single to Breetzke, and Lyon comes around the wicket to the left-handed Rickelton, with three catchers on the off side! You don’t often see that. Two slips and a silly mid-off. Defensively played.

This is juicy, this is tasty, and this is coming out of the oven morning-hot and fresh to your table. Let’s eat.

As ever, send me an email if you want to chat, or muse, or opine, or scold me that I don’t understand the true nuances of cricket.

The forecast is clear and sunny all day, at least the part of it that is relevant to cricket. Some clouds coming in tonight, but that’s it.

And what of yesterday? It was another belter, shifting back and forth, but so much rests on South Africa’s captain, and while he was there, the hosts were in the best spot. Until the very late hour, the day’s final passage of play… here’s the match report.

If Temba Bavuma was decisive for South Africa as he batted through day after day in Gqeberha, his fall in the shadow of stumps on the third day might prove as decisive at Cape Town. Bowled by a Nathan Lyon classic with eight balls to go, he saw his team reach stumps at 140 for 4, with a lead of just 40 to build on.