Australia close in on victory

Durban : Australia moved one wicket from victory in the first Test against South Africa on Sunday after Mitchell Starc’s swing bowling decimated the hosts’ lower order and dampened their hopes of an unlikely recovery.

South Africa were 293/9 at the close of the fourth day, still 123 runs adrift of Australia, who will return on Monday to wrap up what appears an almost inevitable victory and a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

South Africa’s opener Aiden Markram provided some stout resistance, scoring 143 runs, while Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 81 also helped frustrate the visitors as South Africa recovered from a horrid start to their second innings.

Australia looked to be heading to an easy win when they set South Africa 417 for victory before taking four key home wickets for just 49 runs before lunch as they devastated the home team’s top order.

Dean Elgar was the first to go for nine before Josh Hazlewood claimed the wicket of Hashim Amla - the sixth time he has done so in the last four Tests between the two countries.

AB de Villiers was run out after facing a single ball and then captain Faf du Plessis scored only four before having his stumps knocked out of the ground by Pat Cummins.

Yet Markram proved a bulwark with a knock that belied his inexperience and gave the home fans a tantalising glimmer of an improbable victory. He was the mainstay in an 87-run partnership with Theunis de Bruyn and added 147 more runs with De Kock for the sixth wicket.