South Africa vs England, 1st Test Day 4 preview: England start well but still a long way to go

A target of 376 is never easy, but England came back into the Test brilliantly thanks to a 92-run opening stand between Rory Burns (77*) and Dom Sibley (29), England’s highest for the year. They finished the day on 121/1, still 255 away, but they would feel a lot better than they did at tea.

Joe Denly (10*) arrived after Sibley hit one back to Keshav Maharaj (1/16). He will resume with Burns tomorrow, and with Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, and Sam Curran to follow, South Africa’s task will not be easy.

However, the hosts will resume as favourites on a pitch where the ball is moving off the surface. Given England’s batting firepower, it is likely to be a close contest.

Vernon Philander (0/20) has bowled with metronomic precision, beating both edges every now and then. Kagiso Rabada (0/48) went flat out in search of wickets with no success – an outcome one rarely associates with him.

Before that, Rassie van der Dussen (51) became the first cricketer to score fifties on Test, ODI, as well as T20I debuts. He was trapped leg-before by Jofra Archer (5/102), but not before he added 91 for the fifth wicket with nightwatchman Anrich Nortje (40).

Quinton de Kock (34) began in ominous fashion, lofting Archer for sixes behind square leg off the third and fourth balls he faced. He added 43 for the eighth wicket with Philander (46), who, in turn, added another 30 with Maharaj and 22 with Rabada.

Key players

Vernon Philander (South Africa): Philander will want his last series to be memorable. He knows these conditions too well, and as we saw on Day 3, he may switch to a shorter run-up, compromising on pace but looking every bit as lethal with his accuracy and canny variations.

Rory Burns (England): Burns has demonstrated his pedigree in his brief career, but this will be the biggest test of his mettle. He has got off to a great start, but will have to start afresh tomorrow. If he can prove himself here, England’s top-order woes will be somewhat sorted.

Brief scores

South Africa 284 (Quinton de Kock 95; Stuart Broad 4/58, Sam Curran 4/58) and 181 (Rassie van der Dussen 51; Jofra Archer 5/102) lead England 181 (Joe Denly 50; Vernon Philander 4/16) and 121/1 (Rory Burns 77*; Keshav Maharaj 1/16) by 254 runs.

Prediction

South Africa to win a close game in the final session.