Durban , December 29 : Steven Finn struck three times in two spells to break through South Africa’s top order batting and put England well on their way to victory at the close of the fourth day of the first Sunfoil Test match at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Tuesday.
Finn got the psychological wicket of Castle Lager Proteas captain, Hashim Amla, and followed with that of first innings batting hero, Dean Elgar, 8 balls later to put the home side on the back foot. But then AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis looked as though they might be setting themselves up for another of their fourth innings epic partnerships until Finn struck again in the last over of the day, getting a delivery to bounce sharply off a good length and find the outside edge of Du Plessis’ bat.
That left the Proteas 136/4 at the close, still needing a further 280 runs for victory with Finn having figures of 3/27 in 8 overs.
Theoretically at least the Proteas still have a chance as long as De Villiers (37 not out off 83 balls, 6 fours) stays at the crease. England would certainly have been a lot closer to victory had Jonny Bairstow not missed a stumping chance with De Villiers halfway down the pitch on 33 when Moeen Ali deceived him with a change of angle to around the wicket.
In spite of ending the day with their backs to the wall the Proteas probably produced their best cricket of the match so far with their three-man attack managing to bowl England out for 326 with four wickets falling in the first session and three in the second.
It enabled Dane Piedt to join the elite band of South African spinners who have claimed five wickets in an innings in a home Test match. He bowled virtually unchanged to take 5/153 in 36 overs.
Stiaan van Zyl also claimed a career best 3/20 and the innings finished with the slightly unusual sight of the two South African opening batsmen doing the bowling.
The batting accolades went to Bairstow (79 off 76 balls, 9 fours and 3 sixes) who entertained with his power hitting and eventually sacrificed his wicket to be last man out in pursuit of a maiden Test century.