, 1st Test: South Africa vs England 5th day live

   
 1st Test: South Africa vs England 5th day live
   

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England 303 & 326
South Africa 214 & 136/4 (47.0 ov)
South Africa require another 280 runs with 6 wickets remaining
South Africa RR 2.89
Last 10 ovs 16/1 RR 1.60
Stumps - Day 4     Current time 07:03 local, 05:03 GMT     Test Career
Batsmen     R     B     4s     6s     SR     This bowler     Last 10 ovs
AB de Villiers (rhb)     37     83     6     0     44.57     14 (20b)     12 (36b)
Dale Steyn (rhb)     0     3     0     0     0.00     0 (3b)     0 (3b)
   
Mat     Runs     HS     Ave
103     7950     278*     51.62
82     1141     76     14.26
Bowlers     O     M     R     W     Econ     0s     4s     6s     This spell
Steven Finn (rfm)     8.0     3     27     3     3.37     37     5     0     2-1-3-1
Moeen Ali (ob)     15.0     3     36     0     2.40     70     5     0     1-1-0-0
   
Mat     Wkts     BBI     Ave
27     107     6/79     27.96
20     58     6/67     37.32
Recent overs

    • 1 1 • 1 •

    • • • • • •

    • • W • • •

Current partnership 0 runs, 0.3 overs, RR: 0.00 (de Villiers 0, Steyn 0)

Last bat F du Plessis c Cook b Finn 9 (103m 66b 1x4 0x6) SR: 13.63

Fall of wicket 136/4 (46.3 ov); Partnership: 48 runs, 23.5 overs, RR: 2.01 (de Villiers 36, du Plessis 9)

Umpire reviews remaining South Africa 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful); England 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful)

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End of over 47 (wicket maiden) South Africa 136/4

        DW Steyn 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
        AB de Villiers 37 (83b 6x4 0x6)
        ST Finn 8-3-27-3
        MM Ali 15-3-36-0

5.35pm: Another festively plump day of Test match action gets a grandstand finish, with England closing in despite the mandatory AB de Fiance. He is the key man if South Africa are going to get out of this - most likely via grim resistance, even though a chase remains theoretically possible. The target is 280 runs away, while England will have 90 overs to try and get six wickets; Steven Finn looks the most likely of Blockbusters but Moeen Ali will have a big role to play, too. How crucial will Bairstow's miss of de Villiers be? We'll have to wait to find out. Gnasher's report will be in the slot soon and we'll be back for more in the morning. I'll leave you with this, from JT: "Dale didn't bungle it, but the flag of St George is on top. The Rainbow nation will need to bat like Geoffrey to save the game tomorrow." Cheerio

46.6

Finn to Steyn, no run, short and climbing through outside off, another Zippy ball but Dale doesn't Bungle it and he'll be back in the morning - that is stumps, with England a de Villiers from victory (you would think)

Finn runs back to his mark, while Steyn does a bit of gardening... He wants this to be the last ball

46.5

Finn to Steyn, no run, slightly back of a length, defended safely down into the ground

Taylor goes in under the helmet, right in Steyn's eyeline. There's a short leg too

46.4

Finn to Steyn, no run, hammers the ball in on a length, it kicks and hits the splice as Steyn bravely gets into line

In comes Dale Steyn as nightwatchman, despite his injured shoulder... And the umpires have now decided to change the ball, something they had been asked about and declined earlier in the over. Sure Faf will be happy to see that

46.3

Finn to du Plessis, OUT, extra bounce, du Plessis plays... and he's gone, taken at slip! What a breakthrough, brilliant delivery from Finn and Cook does not blink at the chance, England have knocked another brick out of the wall in the dying moments of the day! It was a ripper of a delivery from Finn, coaxing something extra out of the surface, enough to breach du Plessis' barricades at last

F du Plessis c Cook b Finn 9 (103m 66b 1x4 0x6) SR: 13.63
46.2

Finn to du Plessis, no run, comes across and defends on off stump once again

"'I am just wondering, is there not a really good wicketkeeper in England who can bat a bit?' Sarah Taylor." Fair shout, Paul

46.1

Finn to du Plessis, no run, in the channel outside off, left alone

Maybe a couple more overs left in the day... SA sandbagging for the close

End of over 46 (maiden) South Africa 136/3

        AB de Villiers 37 (83b 6x4 0x6)
        F du Plessis 9 (63b 1x4 0x6)
        MM Ali 15-3-36-0
        ST Finn 7-2-27-2

"Just sent a real funny comment and Alan ignored it. Now he will either ignore this one too or say it was not funny at all or both." Just ask yourself, vibhash, was it really funny?

45.6

Ali to de Villiers, no run, tossed up on middle and leg, pushed away with everlasting determination
45.5

Ali to de Villiers, no run, leans out and smothers a full, straight offbreak

Silly point comes in, joining slip, leg slip and short leg

45.4

Ali to de Villiers, no run, straighter, tapped down on to the pitch
45.3

Ali to de Villiers, no run, pushed through outside the line of off, jumps into line and shows it the maker's name
45.2

Ali to de Villiers, no run, more resolute defence from AB
45.1

Ali to de Villiers, no run, tossed up on the stumps, straightening as de Villiers knocks it away on the back foot

End of over 45 (3 runs) South Africa 136/3

        F du Plessis 9 (63b 1x4 0x6)
        AB de Villiers 37 (77b 6x4 0x6)
        ST Finn 7-2-27-2
        SCJ Broad 11-4-25-0

Here's Hypocaust: "There's rarely an England XI announced that doesn't have observers cooing over the batting abilities of the tail, so why not think radically/ultra traditionally and pick a specialist keeper to bat #11? Bates for England!" Sadly, I think he's given up the gig... Although he was briefly on Sky earlier, giving coaching tips to the England U-19s

44.6

Finn to du Plessis, no run, hurled down on off stump, du Plessis watches it all the way and stuns it dead
44.5

Finn to de Villiers, 1 run, straighter line, only 130kph from Finn, nudged into that gap at midwicket again
44.4

Finn to de Villiers, no run, gets into line and bunts the ball down into the off side with immaculately soft hands
44.3

Finn to du Plessis, 1 run, drops back and drops the ball to leg again, this is a much tighter run and de Villiers is scrambling as the throw comes in, needed a direct hit, though
44.2

Finn to de Villiers, 1 run, length ball around off stump, turned off through the leg side for a single
44.1

Finn to de Villiers, no run, charges in and hits the bat hard as de Villiers defends on the back foot

Moeen is off, ruing his luck I should imagine, Steven Finn replacing him

End of over 44 (maiden) South Africa 133/3

        F du Plessis 8 (61b 1x4 0x6)
        AB de Villiers 35 (73b 6x4 0x6)
        SCJ Broad 11-4-25-0
        MM Ali 14-2-36-0

"Alan, Adam Voges is something of a 'museum piece', and his selection this year has worked out pretty well, batting average over 85." Well, mainly because he's duffed up West Indies on several occasions, Phil. Not saying there isn't a place for old dogs - just that England aren't going to select one as wicketkeeper

43.6

Broad to du Plessis, no run, continues to try and mess with the perspective by running in at an angle, hard to discombobulate du Plessis in this sort of mood and he blocks in front of his wicket
43.5

Broad to du Plessis, no run, Broad starts behind the umpire and runs wide before delivering the ball in the channel, du Plessis squints at it and offers no stroke
43.4

Broad to du Plessis, no run, full length, grunt of exertion from Broad as Faf plants the front foot and smells the leather in defence
43.3

Broad to du Plessis, no run, pitched up, props out and dead-bats another
43.2

Broad to du Plessis, no run, gets into line and blocks once more, du Plessis practising his pointillism
43.1

Broad to du Plessis, no run, good length around off stump, punched square

James Taylor is brought in under Faf's nose at silly point

End of over 43 (maiden) South Africa 133/3

        AB de Villiers 35 (73b 6x4 0x6)
        F du Plessis 8 (55b 1x4 0x6)
        MM Ali 14-2-36-0
        SCJ Broad 10-3-25-0

"Bairstow's 'missed stumping' is perhaps the hardest type of stumping chance there is," says Andrew Harries. "Ray Jennings (currently doing SABC commentary) thinks so to....although I'm sure Ray would have taken the chance." I guess he was a little unsighted as the ball drifted across the batsman and then spun the other way... But he had a long time to adjust

42.6

Ali to de Villiers, no run, off-stump line, pushed back down the track - maiden for Moeen, his second of the innings
42.5

Ali to de Villiers, no run, tossed up, reaches out and defended again
42.4

Ali to de Villiers, no run, quicker delivery and de Villiers continues to block
42.3

Ali to de Villiers, no run, half forward, pushes back towards the bowler
42.2

Ali to de Villiers, no run, gets forward and defends
42.1

Ali to de Villiers, no run, stays round the wicket, worked to the leg side from the crease

Commentator: Alan Gardner

Scorer: M Venkat Raghav

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'It couldn't have been a better day for England'

    Faf's Rough patch
    12.44
    Faf du Plessis' batting average in nine innings since he last made a fifty in Tests. Has been out four times in single digits including 3 ducks.

  
Hours of play (local time) 10am start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00; Friday: Lunch 12.30-13.30; Tea: 15.30-16.00; Close: 18:00

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Match Coverage
Moeen revival increases SA pain
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Alan Gardner discusses the mounting problems for South Africa after Moeen Ali helped skittle them for 214 and key bowler Dale Steyn picked up an injury | December 28, 2015

   

West Indies tour of Australia, 2nd Test: 4th day Highlights at Melbourne,

   

West Indies tour of Australia, 2nd Test: Australia 4th day Highlights at Melbourne,

   

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Australia 551/3d & 179/3d
West Indies 271 & 282 (88.3 ov)
Australia won by 177 runs
West Indies RR 3.18
Last 10 ovs 32/4 RR 3.20
    Current time 19:01 local, 08:01 GMT     Test Career
Batsmen     R     B     4s     6s     SR     This bowler     Last 10 ovs
Jomel Warrican (rhb)     4     3     1     0     133.33     0 (0b)     4 (3b)
   
Mat     Runs     HS     Ave
3     44     20*     44.00
Bowlers     O     M     R     W     Econ     0s     4s     6s     This spell
Mitchell Marsh (rm)     17.3     2     61     4     3.48     79     5     0     1.3-0-6-2
James Pattinson (rfm)     17.0     4     49     2     2.88     77     5     0     4-1-19-1
   
Mat     Wkts     BBI     Ave
12     21     4/61     30.90
15     62     5/27     25.75
Recent overs

    4 • 1 • 1 W

    • 4 W • • 4

    • • W

Last bat JE Taylor c Pattinson b Marsh 0 (8m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Fall of wicket 282/10 (88.3 ov); Partnership: 4 runs, 1.0 overs, RR: 4.00 (Taylor 0, Warrican 4)

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Umpire reviews remaining West Indies 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful); Australia 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful)

6.10pm That's all from us from this Boxing Day Test. Hope you've enjoyed it. Keep tuning in to our coverage, keep sending in your comments, and have an awesome New Year. I'll leave you with a few of your comments. Until next time, goodbye!

Mal: "I'm very pleased with what I saw from both teams today. WI showed encouraging fight and determination, and almost held their own today. Australia, despite missing so many fast bowlers due to retirement or injury, chiselled them out."

AJ: "Among all this, I just cant believe how selfless Smith is. HE could have easily made another ton to his credit but it takes much much than what we think to declare like this and look at teams cause. Great captain in the making.."

Old Buzzard: "So now we have a Mitchell Pheiffer!" -- Well, not quite, but I'll include your comment for wit anyway.

Nathan Lyon is the Man of the Match. "I'm trying to improve each day," he says. "That was a great Test match, credit to our bowlers. We stuck there and got the late reward. Definitely [work at catching off my own bowling]. Obviously helps if you can hold on to your catches. Can't wait to get down to the dressing room and celebrate with the boys. Credit to the West Indies to push us all the way to the end of day four, made us work really hard."

Steven Smith: We made it difficult for ourselves, overstepping, we had to take 23 wickets, not 20. I thought Mitchell Marsh was impressive today, he really charged in, hit the pitch hard, got it reversing. Usman is playing beautifully. I've put myself down at No. 4 and I think it's a good decision. He's made three hundreds in a row, and another in the Big Bash as well. Lyon is bowling extremely well at the moment and is taking crucial wickets. Hopefully he can continue doing that for a long time. You want to try and wrap up the series 3-0. The West Indies fought really well and I'm sure they'll come back hard at Sydney as well.

Jason Holder: I thought most of the guys applied themselves, which was really commendable. Credit to the way Australia played, they outplayed us. We had to keep wickets in hand, occupy the crease. Our plan was for me and Ramdin to stick on till the end of the day. Carlos came in and showed spirit [in the first innings], and bowled well. We have been criticised from all different angles, but I've just stressed to the team to keep faith. This shows what we can do if we apply ourselves. We just need to keep that belief and keep pushing Australia.

6.02pm Two-nil to Australia, and it was never in doubt. West Indies fought pretty well today, but they will know they could have done so much better. All of their top seven got starts, but only Ramdin and Holder made half-centuries. In any case, the match was lost much, much earlier, when their bowlers let four of the Australian top five make hundreds.

88.3

Marsh to Taylor, OUT, short on off stump, and Australia have won the Frank Worrell Trophy! Goes for the pull, doesn't get hold of it, it goes high in the air off the top edge and Pattinson moves to his left at long leg and dives to take a well-judged catch at long leg

JE Taylor c Pattinson b Marsh 0 (8m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
88.2

Marsh to Taylor, no run, yorker on off stump, jams down and just about keeps it out

Tim: "Who can take this test into a fifth day? Warri'can'!"

88.1

Marsh to Taylor, no run, back of a length on off stump, defended into the covers

End of over 88 (8 runs) West Indies 282/9

        JA Warrican 4 (3b 1x4 0x6)
        JE Taylor 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)
        JL Pattinson 17-4-49-2
        MR Marsh 17-2-61-3

87.6

Pattinson to Warrican, FOUR, boom. Shortish on off stump and he clears his front leg and heaves it over wide mid-on
87.5

Pattinson to Warrican, no run, fullish outside off and he chases away from his body, finishing with left elbow high, picture postcard, really, but for the small detail that he hasn't made any contact with the ball
87.4

Pattinson to Warrican, no run, length ball outside off, left alone

Jomel Warrican. Can he take this Test match into a fifth day?

87.3

Pattinson to Roach, OUT, got him, Australia only need one wicket now. Perfectly directed, hits the pitch hard, short of a good length, gets it to rise and straighten on off stump, and Roach is squared up, nicks it off the shoulder of the bat to third slip

KAJ Roach c Warner b Pattinson 11 (36m 25b 2x4 0x6) SR: 44.00
87.2

Pattinson to Roach, FOUR, fullish outside off, flat-batted to the left of short cover. That came back into him but he still managed to middle it
87.1

Pattinson to Roach, no run, back of a length, fourth-stump line, punched to short extra cover

Taylor joins Roach.

End of over 87 (6 runs) West Indies 274/8

        KAJ Roach 7 (22b 1x4 0x6)
        MR Marsh 17-2-61-3
        JL Pattinson 16-4-41-1

86.6

Marsh to Holder, OUT, got him! That was full on off stump and Holder checked his drive, maybe it held up a bit on the pitch. No feet, and he pushed at it in front of his body, and ended up scooping it straight to mid-off

JO Holder c Hazlewood b Marsh 68 (134m 86b 7x4 2x6) SR: 79.06
86.5

Marsh to Roach, 1 run, full on middle and leg, clipped to long leg
86.4

Marsh to Roach, no run, fullish on off stump, stays on the back foot and blocks into the covers
86.3

Marsh to Holder, 1 run, and again, that legcutter finds the leading edge as he plays across a middle-stump ball. This one goes in the air into the vacant cover point region
86.2

Marsh to Holder, no run, in the blockhole on middle stump, jabbed back to the bowler
86.1

Marsh to Holder, FOUR, length ball on off and middle, straightens to produce the leading edge as Holder looks to whip across the line, and it flies over the leaping, outstretched Warner at gully

Four overs to go, two wickets to get to activate the half-hour extension. Holder and Roach are holding on without too much discomfort. Mitchell Marsh comes back on.

End of over 86 (2 runs) West Indies 268/7

        KAJ Roach 6 (20b 1x4 0x6)
        JO Holder 63 (82b 6x4 2x6)
        JL Pattinson 16-4-41-1
        JR Hazlewood 20-6-40-0

85.6

Pattinson to Roach, no run, length ball on middle stump, defended to mid-on
85.5

Pattinson to Holder, 1 run, length ball close to off stump, gets on the front foot and pushes gently into the covers
85.4

Pattinson to Holder, no run, bouncer, angling down leg, easily ignored
85.3

Pattinson to Holder, no run, shortish, close to off stump, left alone
85.2

Pattinson to Roach, 1 run, shortish, angling into the body, skips across and tucks it down into the leg side
85.1

Pattinson to Roach, no run, back of a length, straightens in the corridor, and Roach's defensive poke is beaten once more

End of over 85 (2 runs) West Indies 266/7

        JO Holder 62 (79b 6x4 2x6)
        KAJ Roach 5 (17b 1x4 0x6)
        JR Hazlewood 20-6-40-0
        JL Pattinson 15-4-39-1

84.6

Hazlewood to Holder, no run, length ball curling away outside off, left alone
84.5

Hazlewood to Holder, no run, back of a length on off and middle, defended to mid-off
84.4

Hazlewood to Holder, 2 runs, short on off stump, pulled away to the left of deep square leg
84.3

Hazlewood to Holder, no run, short outside off, slapped to Lyon at point
84.2

Hazlewood to Holder, no run, length ball close to off stump, straightens and lifts to beat the outside edge

KP: "It's commendable that west Indies could bat for close to 185 overs this match.. The way they batted in first test, it looked impossible for anyone to imagine that." -- They've batted longer than Australia in this Test, but their bowlers only took six wickets to the Australians' 17. That's the biggest difference.

84.1

Hazlewood to Holder, no run, full on off stump, driven smoothly down the ground and Warner dives right from mid-off to stop it

End of over 84 (9 runs) West Indies 264/7

        KAJ Roach 5 (17b 1x4 0x6)
        JO Holder 60 (73b 6x4 2x6)
        JL Pattinson 15-4-39-1
        JR Hazlewood 19-6-38-0

83.6

Pattinson to Roach, FOUR, full on middle stump and Roach shows the full face to drive down the ground, between the non-striker and mid-on. Khawaja, running back from mid-on, couldn't quite pull the ball back short of the rope
83.5

Pattinson to Roach, no run, length ball straightens in the corridor to beat Roach's defensive prod
83.4

Pattinson to Holder, 1 run, back of a length close to off stump, pushed to the right of Lyon at backward point

Commentator: Karthik Krishnaswamy

Scorer: Sanjay Murari

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