Published: Dec 29, 2015, 09:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 29, 2015, 09:15 PM (IST)
England got off to a wonderful start to the final session of day picking up two wickets in quick succession. Steven Finn came in with the urge to pick up wickets and wickets he picked. Finn picked up Faf du Plessis in the very final over of the day would be happy with his performance going into Day 5. First to go was Dean Elgar who batted well for his 40 runs in 71 balls. He played with much grit and confidence carrying from where he ended the first innings remaining not out at 118*. Finn did not just stop there he also capped South African captain Hashim Amla for 12. Amla has so far had a poor form with the bat. Finn end the day with figures of 3 for 27. It was AB de Villiers and Faf Du Plessis to calm the storm with a solid partnership of 48 coming in 24 overs. Going into stumps South Africa are 280 runs away from a memorable victory with AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn at crease.Live Cricket Scorecard: South Africa vs England, 1st Test at Durban, Day 4
After being set a target of 416 by England, South Africa got of to a good start openers Stiaan Van Zyl and Dean Elgar giving them a considerate start bringing up fifty runs in 9.5 overs. This was also Elgar and Van Zyl first 50 run stand in eight innings together. Van Zyl got out to a just before tea after Ben Stokes cleaned him up for 33. Live Cricket Score, South Africa vs England, 2015-16, 1st Test, Day 4 at Durban
Earlier in the day half-centuries by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow helped England set a target of 416 for South Africa. Bairstow led with his batting performance was also the final wicket to fall for England, making a 79 valuable runs to his team’s total of 326. For South Africa, off-spinner Dane Piedt gave his best ever performance in Tests producing figures of five for 156 off 33 overs
Brief Scores:
England 303 (Nick Compton 85, James Taylor 70, Jonny Bairstow 41; Morne Morkel 4 for 75, Dale Steyn 4 for 70) & 275 for 7 ( Nick Compton 49,Joe Root 72, Jonny Bairstow 79; Dane Piedt 5 for 133, Stiaan van Zyl 3 for 20) lead South Africa 214 (Dean Elgar 118*, AB de Villiers 49, Dale Steyn 16; Stuart Broad 4 for 25, Moeen Ali 4 for 69) & 136 for 4 (Stiaan van Zyl 33, Dean Elgar 40, AB de Villiers 37*; Steven Finn 3 for 27, Ben Stokes 1 for 15 ) by 280 runs.
(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @vishal_oxyjinn.)
