SA vs AUS Ball by Ball Commentary

Oh, that was close! Flat and short, just outside the off stump. Bosch goes on the back foot and makes room to force it through the off side. The ball skids through to beat the bat.

Flatter and it is not all that short, on the pads. Corbin flicks it off the back foot towards mid-wicket, where the fielder moves to his right but lets it through. By the time the fielder in the deep can get around, the batters pick up a couple.

Offers flight, full and on off. Rickelton drills it to long off for a run.

Spears in a full ball, on middle. Bosch pushes it to long on for one more.

Flighted up, on the pads. Corbin wrists it to mid-wicket.

Darted in at the sticks, on a length. Rickelton eases it to long on for a single.

Stays around the wicket for the right-hander, serves a short ball, angled away. Bosch hops and punches it to cover.

Angled in at the hips. Rickelton tucks it the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.

Cummins is acing the battle at the moment against Rickelton, but the wicket remains elusive. Off-cutter, on a back of a length, on off. Rickelton flashes but can only connect with thin air.

On the off pole, on a short of a length. Rickelton pats it to cover.

A big swing and a miss! You can feel the pressure building on Ryan Rickelton. Cross-seam ball, on a back of a length, outside off. Rickelton has a heave across the line but the ball sails over his blade.

At 136.8 kph, on a back of a length, on off. Rickelton punches it to cover.

Slows it down and the length is dragged back, on middle. Rickelton knocks it to long on for another single.

Full and fired in at the pads, Corbin flicks it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Floated up, on off, Bosch taps it to cover.

Spinning back in, on a nagging length, on middle. Rickelton uses the depth of the crease and punches it to long on. They cross.

Short and wide on off. Bosch slaps it to deep point and gets to the other end.

Fractionally short, on off. Bosch thumps it off the back foot but picks out the man at extra cover.

Rickelton throws his head back in disappointment at not managing to get this one away. Cummins rolls his fingers over the ball, on a good length, on middle. Ryan tries to whip it away on the leg side but gets a soft leading edge and it dribbles to cover. At the halfway mark, South Africa are 135/4, needing 188 runs in 150 balls.

Goes past the bat! Angled in before straightening off the deck, on a good length, around off. Rickelton fishes at the ball and is beaten past the outside edge.

Half a shout for LBW, but it is turned down. Cummins varies his length as he goes fuller, angled in on middle and leg. Rickelton is caught in his crease and plays all around it. It nips back to go past the inside edge and hits the batter high on the thigh pad.

Pace off and into the deck from around the wicket, on middle. Rickelton shapes up to turn it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. Miscues it off the splice of the bat back towards the bowler.

Another short ball by Pat, on off. Bosch gets on top of the bounce and fends it in front of point for a quick single.

Dug in short, outside off. Bosch stands tall on his toes, trying to force it through the off side with a horizontal bat. He is early into the shot and mistimes it to cover.

Drags the length back, on middle. Bosch goes back in the crease and flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.

Oh! This spins away, on the fuller side, on off. Bosch gets his hands out in front and hangs low. Attempts to drag the sweep in front of square and toe-ends it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! In the gap! Skidding through at 86.8 kph, darted in at the pads. Bosch is quick to pick up the length and rocks back in his crease. Rolls his wrists over the ball and pulls it well to the right of deep square leg for a boundary.

Looped up again, on middle. Rickelton reaches out in front, takes the ball on the full and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Loopy ball, on off. Corbin drives it to long off for a single.

Tossed up, on middle. Bosch firms the drive down the deck. Zampa gets low on his follow-through and prevents it from going past him.

Angled in at the ribs of the batter. Bosch lifts his front leg and tries to play the pull. Gets an underedge and it goes down towards leg gully, where the fielder dives to his right and makes a half stop. They cross.

Jagging back in sharply and rises up as well from a short of a good length. Bosch is cramped for room and attempts to nudge it away but cops a blow on the glove. He is keen for a quick single but the square leg fielder attacks the ball and keeps Bosch on strike.

Nearly dragged it on! Cummins hurls it on a shortish length and gets the ball to climb onto the batter. Bosch gets on his toes and gets his hands high to fend it down but the ball catches the inside edge and clips the right elbow before it drops at the batter's feet. Luckily for Bosch, it does not trickle back onto the stumps.

Greets the new batter with a bumper, over middle. Bosch ducks under it hurriedly.

Keeps it outside off, on a length. Rickelton pushes it through covers for a single.

Around off, on a length. Rickelton dabs it down on the off side.

OUT! LBW! A loud shout and the finger is raised. Tristan Stubbs turns around and trudges off, opting not to review. Oh, hang on, Ryan Rickelton stops Stubbs in his tracks, and convinces him to take the review, which the latter does with 1 second left on the timer. This does not turn, and it slides on with the arm, full and at the sticks. Stubbs leans forward and plays for the leg break. He plays down the wrong line, with the ball sneaking past the inside edge to hit him on the front pad. Daylight between the bat and the ball. The Ball Tracking comes up as three reds, with the ball crashing into the leg stump. Adam Zampa picks up another prized scalp. South Africa lose their 4th wicket, needing 198 more runs.

Full and on off. Stubbs reaches out in front and defends it out.

FOUR! Gets it away! Sliding onto the pads, on the fuller side. Stubbs is on the back foot to a ball he was better off being forward to. He is late on the flick but just about manages to get his bat down. It takes the inside edge and goes down to the deep fine leg fence.

Flatter and shorter, not all that wide but Stubbs goes for the cut. Ends up chopping it down to point.

Floated up again, on off. Stubbs lunges to smother the spin.

Flighted up, on off. Stubbs gets a good stride in and drives it wide of deep cover. Pat Cummins sprints to his right and slides to mop it up. Two taken.

TWO WIDES! Zampa gets it all wrong as he sprays a full toss, down leg. Rickelton can't put it away. Alex Carey gets low to his right and gets his body behind the ball. It deflects off his thigh wide of short fine leg as the batters cross.

Pace taken off by Starc, full and wide on off. Stubbs ends up squeezing it out to cover.

Hurls it on a length, on off. Rickelton leans across and punches it past cover for one more.

At 137.6 kph, on off, on a short of a good length. Stubbs shuffles a bit and tugs it in front of square on the leg side. They cross.

Another drop and run! At the sticks, fuller in length. Rickelton dabs it in front of point and hurries to the other end.

Angled away, on a nagging length. Stubbs drops it with soft hands wide of cover and scampers through for a quick single.

Hits the hard length, on off. Stubbs rises on his toes and stabs it down on the off side.

A dot to end, and just 4 singles off it. Floated up around leg, Rickelton works it away to square leg. South Africa need 210 more off 180 balls, and they are also currently behind on the DLS score. But let's hope that the rain stays away and DLS doesn't come into play.

The leg break outside off, staying a bit low. Stubbs makes room and eases it through covers, turning the strike over.

Pushed through flatter and straighter at the pads, tucked away neatly in front of mid-wicket for a run by Rickelton.

Fuller one on the stumps, Rickelton brings out the reverse sweep, hitting it hard but straight to short third.

Zampa slows it right up, getting it to turn away from the fourth-stump line. Stubbs stays back and opens the bat face at the last second, dabbing it wide of short third for a single.

Flatter one from the front of the hand. Stays low around the off stump. Stubbs rocks back and jams it back to the bowler.

Full and wide, slanted across off. Tristan Stubbs smacks the drive to deep cover and picks up a single. 8 off the over.

Dug in shorter over middle and leg, Stubbs hops inside the line, waits well and dabs the pull down behind square leg for a comfortable brace.

Fuller than a good length, at 138.2 kph, on a tight line around off. Stubbs stays compact and blocks it off.

Slower one, a bit more round arm and full on off. Rickelton leans on and strokes it past the cover fielder. Pat Cummins from deep point runs around to his left and cuts it off. Three taken.

Shorter one attacking the ribs. Tristan Stubbs lets the ball come on and tucks it down to deep backward square leg for a run.

Good length in the channel, punched away straight to extra cover. A needless shy at the bowling end results in an overthrow. Starc is not happy one bit.

OUT! STUMPED! A gem of a delivery from Adam Zampa, and he deserved that wicket. Flighted ball, in and around off, drifting in before dipping and turning away. Matthew Breetzke is drawn forward and he leans on to block but is beaten in the flight. The ball rips past the outside edge and Alex Carey whips off the bails in a flash. The replays show that Breetzke has his back leg on the line, and no part of it is inside the line, so it will be out. The end of a 72-run stand and South Africa lose their third wicket.

Fuller one, tossed up outside off. This is driven away to the left of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Lovely length again from Zampa. Nagging length on off and middle, angling in a bit. Matthew Breetzke watchfully defends.

Flatter one around off, hit away from the crease and square through the off side for a single. 100 up for South Africa.

Rickelton overturns an LBW decision. Adam Zampa bowls this one from the front of the hand, landing it on a good length on middle and leg. The ball slides through and Ryan Rickelton is caught on the back foot, trying to flick it away. The ball beats the inside edge and hits Rickelton on the back pad. A loud appeal for LBW, and it's been given. Rickelton has reviewed it, though. There's nothing on UltraEdge but Ball Tracking shows that the ball is going over the stumps and the Aussies can't believe it. Not Out.

Tossed up on off, turning it back in. Rickelton leans on and plays it back to the bowler.

Dragged shorter around off, punched away off the back foot to deep point for a run more.

Nagging length around off, punched away towards cover.

Another misfield, this time in the deep. Short and wide, cut away off the back foot to deep point. The fielder goes down to his right but fails to pick up the ball cleanly, conceding the second run.

A fumble inside the ring, and the extra run is conceded. Floated up outside off, Rickelton slaps it to point, where the fielder lets it through his fingers and Rickelton picks up two runs.

Attacking the stumps again, shovelled away in front of square leg for a single.

On a dragged length, turning back into the stumps. Matthew Breetzke makes room and tries to force it against the spin, but it is stopped at covers.

Bowled into the pitch, and this one turns away a fair bit. Matthew Breetzke rocks back and plays a scratchy pull shot against the turn, and it goes down to long on for another single.

Full and flat, attacking the toes. Rickelton flicks it through square leg and gets a single.

Full and on off, turning in. Rickelton lunges forward, taking it on the full and plays a lovely drive, but it is well-stopped at short cover.

Nicely looped up by Adam Zampa, very full and dipping on the batter around leg stump. Ryan Rickelton leans on to flick but plays all around it. The ball goes past the inside edge to hit him on the pads. A big shout for LBW, but turned down. Was that turning down leg? There is a discussion within the Australian camp, and Mitchell Marsh signals for a review. Initial replays suggest an inside edge, and the third umpire confirms the same with UltraEdge. It stays Not Out, and Australia lose a review.

Tossed up wide outside off, getting it to turn away. Matthew Breetzke reaches for it, toe-ending it to deep cover for just another single.

Short of a length, on off and middle. Ryan Rickelton stays back and whips it down to deep mid-wicket for a single. Rickelton also brings up his FIFTY with that single.

A bit short and wide, cut away to deep point to make it five singles on the trot. Pretty decent over from Oliver Peake, and South Africa are 89/2 after 15 overs.

On middle and leg, this one turns down leg. Matthew Breetzke gets a bit side on and clips it down behind square leg, turning the strike over.

Sliding it in towards the leg pole. Rickelton plays it off the back foot and gets it down to long on yet again for another single.

Nagging length, darted in towards middle and leg. Breetzke rocks back and punches it through mid on for one more.

Full on middle and leg, hit away on the front foot to wide long on for a run.

On a fullish length, just outside off and turning away. Rickelton leans on to defend.

FOUR! Lovely hands from Breetzke. Zampa dishes out a full and wide one. Breetzke goes on one knee and creams the drive past covers for a boundary to end the over.

A good hustle from the fielder. Flatter one around off, punched away down to the left of mid off, but it is cut off and the batters pinch a single.

On the shorter side, Matthew Breetzke pulls it firmly to deep mid-wicket and picks up another single.

Floated up, full on middle and leg. Rickelton leans on and clips it to the left of mid-wicke for a run.

Dragged length at the stumps, turning in. Rickelton rocks back and jams it down to mid-wicket.

Ouch! Matt Renshaw seems to have hurt himself while making that half-stop. Dragged short on leg stump, turning in. Rickelton rocks back and pulls it down firmly towards square leg. Renshaw sticks out the right hand but the ball bounces and goes off the arm, deflecting into the deep for a brace.

Length ball outside off, Breetzke taps it straight to point and calls for a single, but Rickelton rightly sends him back.

Flatter one outside off, comes back in a bit. Matthew Breetzke hops back and punches it against the spin to covers.

Tossed up fuller at the stumps, driven down to long on for a single.

SIX! There's a fielder over there in the deep, but the ball sails over his head. Dragged shorter and angled into the pads. Rickelton rocks back and swings it away over deep square leg for a six.

Floated up on middle and leg, Rickelton leans on and flicks it to mi-wicket.

On a dragged length, pushing it into the pads. Breetzke tucks it through square leg for a single. The batters think about the second run, but decide against it.

Floated up outside off, Breetzke leans on and drives it through covers for a single.

Excellent change of pace from Connolly. Flighted ball, a bit full and on off, getting it to dip and turn. Matthew Breetzke lunges forward to block but is beaten past the outside edge. The third umpire is called in to check the stumping as Carey dislodged the bails. Replays show that Breetzke had his back leg inside the crease at all times.

Bowled slightly into the pitch and this one comes in with the arm. Breetzke stays put and punches it out to covers.

Nicely flighted, on a nagging length and turning in from around off. Rickelton presses back and stabs it down to long on for one more.

A bit of risk involved in that single. Good length on off, Matthew Breetzke punches it straight to the cover fielder and both batters set off quickly for the single. The throw comes in at the keeper's end as Rickelton dives in. Alex Carey whips off the bails but Ryan is well in.

A tad shorter, turning into the pads. Rickelton waits back and tucks it down to deep backward square leg for one.

That's slung back in. Fullish length on middle and off, Rickelton looks to lean on and drive but ends up getting an inside edge off the pads and towards short fine leg for a single.

Good-length delivery, attacking the top of off. Ryan solidly blocks it off the front foot.

Back of a length, over the stumps, Rickelton hops back to defend.

FOUR! Cracked away! Cummins comes around the wicket now, digging it in short around the off stump. Ryan Rickelton gets on top of the bounce early and smacks the pull through mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR LEG BYES! Cummins gets his line wrong. Good length but angled into the pads, Rickleton misses the tickle and the ball brushes the pads before rolling into the fine leg fence.

Pitched on a hard length, in and around off. Ryan Rickelton plays it late, blocking it down to point.

Attacking the sticks, on a good length. Breetzke defends it solidly.

FOUR! Up and over! Bartlett slides onto the pads, a bit too full. Breetzke holds his shape and picks it up off the pads. Mitchell Starc at deep backward square leg gives chase but is beaten to his left.

Full and around off, Rickelton pushes it wide of mid off and turns the strike over. The 50 is up for South Africa.

Rapped on the pads! Moving back in towards the pads, on a good length. Rickelton plays all around to be hit on the pads but he had gotten a faint inside edge. Anyway, it seemed to have pitched outside the line of the leg stump.

Fuller now, across the left-hander. Ryan leans across for the drive but Matt Renshaw gets in the way at point with a diving stop.

A play and a miss! Decking away off a good length. Rickelton has a poke at the ball and is lucky not to nick it behind.

On the shorter side, on off. Breetzke gets on top of the bounce and with a high elbow, he punches it towards cover.

On middle and leg, on a nagging length. Ryan works it wide of mid-wicket for one.

Nice and tight, on a nagging length, on middle. Rickelton tries to clip it away but closes the bat face early. It goes off a soft leading edge to cover.

SIX! Picked up and how! Not all that short, but enough for Rickelton to deal with. He uses the depth of the crease and has more of a jab, pumping it in front of square on the leg side.

Angled away, on a short of a length. Rickelton dabs it to point.

Begins on a back of a length, outside off. Breetzke stands tall, trying to force it through the off side but he loses his shape and the bat turns in his hand. He mistimes it wide of mid off and gets across for a single.

In and around the off pole, on a length. Breetzke drops it beside the strip on the off side and hurries to the other end. Good running!

Full and a hint of away shape, on off. Breetzke plays a confident drive to mid off.

Slides it across, full in length. Rickelton lunges for the drive but gets an outside edge that goes down to deep third for a single.

Good response by Bartlett. Drags the length back and runs it across the left-hander. Ryan tries to knock it straight but the ball leaves him.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Bartlett errs on the fuller side as he overpitches it on the off stump. Rickelton presses forward and firms the drive back past the bowler. Once it is past the bowler, there is no stopping it.

A play and a miss! Moving away off the seam, on a nagging length. Rickelton has a feel for the ball and is beaten past the outside edge.

On the off stump, on a good length. Breetzke stabs it down from the crease.

Bangs it in short, outside off. Breetzke drops his wrists and lets the ball go through to the keeper.

Pushed across off, on a length. Breetzke plays a punchy drive and hits it straight to cover.

Hurls it on a good length, on middle. Matthew Breetzke is solid in defence.

Very full, tailing back in at the toes, Rickelton knocks it wide of mid on and crosses over.

Missed out. Starc goes full in search of swing but ends up dishing out a low full toss, on the pads. Rickelton smears it away but picks out the man at mid-wicket.

FOUR! That is a shot and a half. Bowled on a back of a length, outside off. Breetzke gets the width to cash in, and he extends his hands. Opens the bat face and taps the ball on its head, sending it past backward point.

OUT! LBW! That is as plumb as it can get. Aiden Markram knows it, and he looks at Ryan Rickelton before he starts to trudge off. Xavier Bartlett bowls this on the fuller side and angles it in at the sticks. Markram brings his bat out in front, looking to play it towards mid on but plays down the wrong line. The ball jags back in to go past the inside edge. It sneaks through the gap between the bat and the pad to ping him on the back leg right in front of the stumps. South Africa are 30/2 in a chase of 323. Matthew Breetzke walks in at number 4.

FOUR! A shot of high class. Hits the back of a length, does Bartlett, on off. Markram stands tall on his toes and gets on top of the bounce before punching it through the gap between cover and mid off.

Banged in short, outside off. Markram gets on his toes and swivels for the pull. He swings early and connects with thin air.

Beaten! Angled in before straightening off the deck, on a nagging length. Markram presents a straight bat for the block but the ball whistles past the blade due to the seam movement.

Around the off stump, on a length. Aiden pushes it to cover.

Keeps it in the channel, on a good length. Rickelton offers no shot.

Curving away, on a length. Ryan lets it be.

FOUR! Flayed away. A rare loose ball by Starc, short and wide on off. It is there to be put away and Rickelton does not miss out. He frees his arms and spanks it over backward point for a boundary.

Oh, that came back in late. Starc pushes the length up, outside off. Markram shapes up for the big, booming drive but it swings back in late to catch the batter by surprise. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and gets across for a single as the ball goes wide of cover.

FOUR! Threads it through. Fractionally short and equally wide, Markram gets on top of the bounce and punches it hard. It goes a bit uppishly and it is not that wide of Oliver Peake at cover. Peake does not pick it up straight away and is caught wrong footed as the ball beats him to his left.

Starc pitches it up but offers width. Markram transfers his weight onto the front foot and cracks the drive but can't get it past Pat Cummins, who is present at a wide mid off.

Drags the length back now, on off. Rickelton hangs back and guides it to backward point.

An absolute seed by Bartlett. Wobble seam ball, full in length, moving away off the seam from middle to off. Rickelton does not move his feet at all and pushes out in front with a straight bat. It nips away off the seam to go past the outside edge and sneaks past the off pole.

Angled away, on a length. Rickelton angles it with an open bat face to backward point.

Goes full, does Bartlett and gets the ball to curve away. Markram leans across and pushes it between cover and mid off. Pat Cummins moves to his left and slides to keep the batters down to a single.

Edgy! Stays slightly on the shorter side, around off. Rickelton presses up on his toes and pushes at the ball with hard hands. Gets it off the outer half past the diving backward point fielder for a single.

On off, on a short of a length. Rickelton pats it down the deck.

Starc goes searching for the magic ball, trying to get the ball to shape away from leg to middle. He does manage to find a bit of help through the air but not enough to trouble the left-hander. Rickelton clips it wide of mid-wicket and takes a single.

At 141 kph, on a good length, in the channel on off. Rickelton shoulders arms.

Wide. Sprayed down leg, Ryan offers no shot.

Pushes the length up now, on off. Ryan extends his hands and knocks it to cover.

That is a beauty by Starc. Brings the line closer to the off stump and the length is pulled back a touch. Rickelton tries to defend it close to his body and does well not to go feeling for the ball. It moves away late to go past the outside edge.

FOUR! Off the edge. Moving away at 141 kph, full in length. Rickelton stays rooted to the crease and has a tentative prod at the ball. It leaves him in the air to catch the outside edge. It bounces past the diving second slip fielder and down to the deep third fence.

Good hustle between the wickets. Angled away, on a back of a length. Markram rises with the bounce and drops it with soft hands towards cover. Aiden scampers through for a quick single and he could have found himself in trouble with a direct hit but luckily for him, Oliver Peake can't pick the ball up.

FOUR! Helped away to get off the mark. Bartlett strays on the pads, Rickelton lets the ball come on and, with the swing, he tickles it fine of Mitchell Starc at deep fine leg, who stands no chance.

OUT! CAUGHT! Quinton de Kock gets it away this time but picks out the man in the deep. Not the best of balls by Bartlett, as this swings onto the pads, on the fuller side. De Kock plays the pick-up shot with no intention of keeping it on the ground. He fails to pick the gap and holes out to Mitchell Starc at deep fine leg, who gets on his knees and takes a safe catch. Once again in the series, the opening stand does not last long for the Proteas. South Africa are 4/1, chasing 323.

A swing and a miss! Closer to the off stump, bowled on a good length. Quinton tries to pick it up on the leg side but is beaten past the outside edge.

One that angles away at 132.3 kph, on a good length. Quinton shapes up for the pull but the ball is not all that short and it cuts away off the seam. De Kock ends up patting it down on the off side.

A little too straight, on the pads, on a good length. Quinton nudges it to square leg.

Hits the hard length and gets the ball to jag back in awkwardly at the left-hander. QDK is hurried on the back foot but fends it down somehow.

Slips in a full ball, attacking the sticks. Markram brings his bat out in front and blocks it out.

Hooping back in from a short of a good length and it kicks up as well. Markram hops to tuck it away but misses and gets hit on the body.

At 136.2 kph, on a nagging length, outside off. Aiden angles it to point from the crease.

Back to pushing it away, on a good length. Markram presents a straight bat for the block.

FOUR! Markram and South Africa are underway. Starc goes full and gets the ball to curve back into the right-hander. Aiden brings his bat out in front and rolls his wrists to flick it past the diving mid-wicket fielder. The mid on fielder gives chase, but the ball wins the race.

Begins on a back of a length, this is angled across the right-hander from over the wicket. Markram stands tall on his toes and stabs it down.