Cummins runs riot as Proteas crumble for umpteenth time

Cummins took 3 wickets [Source: Associated Press]

A fired-up Pat Cummins and a returning Josh Hazlewood tore apart South Africa in style as the visitors finished Day 4 on 149 for 6, still trailing by 326 runs. 

A bold declaration from Aussie skipper Pat Cummins meant opener Usman Khawaja was stranded on 195 and missed out on his maiden Test double century. But Cummins' decision was justified as the Aussies were eyeing a clean sweep and a place in the WTC finals.

Khawaja became only the third player after Frank Worrell and Sachin Tendulkar to be in 190s when their captains declared an innings.

With overcast conditions hovering around, South Africa had their task cut off, and their miseries continued as Cummins and Hazlewood ran through the Proteas defence in the early burst.

The top order woes for Dean Elgar and co. was witnessed by everyone as the Aussie new bowler duo used the extra bounce to their advantage and the batters had no answer for it.

Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors and was the chief destroyer up-front. He consistently troubled Elgar with short pitched deliveries and eventually hit his glove as Carey took a simple catch.

Elgar, who had only accumulated 46 runs in the Test series, survived a low-catch controversial call. He edged a Hazlewood delivery to the slip region, where Steve Smith flung to his right and took a low catch. 

It was given not-out on soft signal. Initial replays suggested that Smith had caught the ball, but further replays suggested that the ball hit the turf first. Eventually with no conclusive evidence, umpire Richard Kettleborough had to stay with the soft-signal.

On the other hand, Heinrich Klaasen, who was playing his first Test since 2019, was dismissed by a pearler from Pat Cummins, and Erwee followed him soon as the spin maestro, Nathan Lyon knocked over his stumps.

With three wickets in quick successions, Khaya Zondo started the repair work, first with Temba Bavuma (35), and then with Kyle Verreynne. Bavuma nicked a back of a length ball towards Carey and the keeper made no mistake with it. 

The ever dependent duo of Zondo and Verreynne frustrated the Aussies for a while, but Cummins showed his class once again to sent back both the batter within a space of seven runs.

Follow-on is looming over South Africa's head at the moment. They need to bat out of their skins to salvage something from this game. 

Brief Score

South Africa 1st innings: 149-6 (59.0)

Khaya Zondo 39 (83), Temba Bavuma 35 (74);

Pat Cummins 3-29 (14), Josh Hazlewood 2-29 (12)

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