Australia left with a mountain to climb

South Africa are on course for a historic series victory over Australia and only the final series scoreline is still to be determined on the final day of a controversial tour.

With Australia 3-88 at the close on day four and still needing 524 to win, the Proteas - already 2-1 up in the series - are on track to record their first series win against Australia on home soil since 1970.

A score of 120 to skipper Faf du Plessis and 81 from Dean Elgar lifted the hosts to 6-344 declared, before Australia lost three wickets in the evening session to be left with an entire day to bat on Tuesday to stave off defeat.

Queensland trio Matthew Renshaw (5), Joe Burns (42) and Usman Khawaja (7) all lost their wickets before stumps as a wounded South African bowling attack pushed for a victory that will give them a 3-1 series win.

The Proteas started the day holding a commanding 401-run lead in front of empty stands, and by the way du Plessis and Elgar batted early on, it was as if they were waiting for the absent attendees to arrive before playing an attacking shot.

After 30 minutes of dour play that saw nine runs added to the scoreboard, light rain forced players off the field for approximately 15 minutes before the stalemate continued.

Elgar’s block-a-thon mercifully ended after an hour of playing time when he lofted Chadd Sayers for a streaky two over cover before, four balls out from lunch, du Plessis launched Nathan Lyon into the stands as South Africa entered the break with a lead of 469, a total that looked more than enough.

But still, they batted on.

Their reasons for not declaring became clearer after the interval when an update from the Proteas camp delivered some alarming details about their fast bowlers; Kagiso Rabada was struggling with a stiff back, Morne Morkel was still battling the left side strain he sustained on day three and Vernon Philander had a strapped groin.

So with only one fully fit bowler, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, the hosts batted on in order to ensure they wouldn't lose the match and, at the least, the series win was secure.

Meanwhile, a brace of boundaries off Lyon moved du Plessis into the nineties and not even a busted right index finger that was cut open by Pat Cummins in the first session could stop him from bringing up his hundred, with an edge through the slip cordon off Josh Hazlewood earning him the milestone.

The skipper added 17 more runs before Cummins found some extra bounce to take the shoulder of his bat, the ball ending up in the hands of Peter Handscomb at second slip to see the back of du Plessis with the lead well beyond 500.

Perhaps inspired by his captain, Elgar’s stroke play became considerably more expansive – he hit Mitch Marsh for a six to bring up his half-century – but as a second hundred of the series approached he was out to Lyon, caught top-edging a slog sweep.

Cummins then trapped Quinton de Kock with a beauty that swung down the line to capture his ninth wicket for the Test and record his best match figures in his short Test career.

Philander and Temba Bavuma added 71 for the seventh wicket before it was time for tea and also - finally - time for a declaration, with South Africa leading by 611.

Image Id: 2E24F2F648D446598ACF9336DF489473 Image Caption: Du Plessis snapped his form drought with a century in Joburg // cricket.com.au

The ascent of the Mount Everest of run-chases started in the worst possible fashion when Renshaw was given out first ball, caught behind off Rabada, but the Queenslander immediately reviewed the decision and replays found only the flesh of the batsman’s arm came into contact with the ball.

Renshaw was ultimately the first to go, however, when Morkel pinned the left-hander lbw for five bowling from round the wicket.

Khawaja was out leg before wicket to Maharaj, and while there was no doubting Renshaw’s dismissal, the No.3 was upset with how he departed.

acing Maharaj from over the wicket, Khawaja moved across his crease towards the off-side and looked to tuck the left-armer to leg. But given the wide trajectory of the delivery, he pulled out of the shot at the last minute, only to watch the ball grip and dramatically spin into his front pad.

Umpire Nigel Llong deemed Khawaja did not play a shot and dismissed the batsman, who would have been saved by the fact the ball struck him outside the line had Llong ruled that he had played a shot. But the 31-year-old was left disappointed when his review confirmed his demise and he departed the field shaking his head.

As the crowd grew restless wanting more wickets, two pitch invaders provided some brief entertainment. The fully-clad 'streakers' sidestepped their way around the chasing security guards, who reacted so slowly it looked as though Australia might reach its victory target before they captured the trespassers.

With the intruders restrained, the match continued and Morkel claimed his second wicket of the evening, another lbw, this time Burns with a searing yorker that the Bulls opener failed to keep out.

Handscomb and Shaun Marsh held firm to the close to give Australia a glimmer of hope that they can save the match on Tuesday, even if the series is all but lost. 

Australia XI: Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (c/wk), Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Chadd Sayers

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers.

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

Third Test South Africa won by 322 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage