David Warner has continued his career-best form to push South Africa to the precipice of their first Test series loss in five years.
Warner gave the tourists the upper hand on day one of the series decider in Cape Town with a sparkling century, and on day four hammered 145 to lift Australia to a 510-run lead when Michael Clarke declared a tick over halfway through the second session.
Quick runs were in demand as Clarke mulled the best time to end Australia’s second innings against the side that famously frustrated him for four and a half sessions en route to a draw in Adelaide 16 months ago.
Warner resumed on 25 and did not disappoint as Australia piled on 153 runs in the opening session to help to a total of 5dec-303.
He brought up his eighth Test ton and pushed the visitors’ total past 400 with the same stroke down to third man in the 47th over.
Shane Watson (25) was promoted to second drop to raise the run-rate and the allrounder flayed the Proteas with style.
Watson almost deposited one lost ball in the brewery adjacent to Newlands as he and Warner put on a 57-run stand in 36 balls.
Clarke came and went for a first-ball duck and refused to pull the pin until 2.28pm local time, meaning he will have potentially 142 overs to roll the Proteas.
The Proteas will set a new Test record in the unlikely event they chase down the total.
South Africa promised to scrap for a draw in Graeme Smith’s farewell to international cricket.
“We’re a very proud nation and it’s very important for us not to lose this series,” said Faf du Plessis, who batted for almost eight hours to secure a draw on Test debut at Adelaide Oval.
“We have done it a few times now (batted for over four sessions to secure a draw).
“We will still be comfortable to bat out time.”
But James Pattinson broke down in the first innings of the 2012 Test in Adelaide and Shane Watson wasn’t in the XI.
This time Australia’s attack is both fitter and better, with Nathan Lyon a far more accomplished offspinner.
Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson captured a combined seven wickets in the first innings and are in fantastic form, leaving their side well placed to record its greatest achievement under Clarke’s captaincy.
Smith suggested pre-match it was “just sad” that “rent a quote” Warner had taken the gloss off his side’s win in the second Test by questioning the legality of wicketkeeper AB de Villiers’ treatment of the ball.
How unpalatable must Smith have found it in his 117th and final Test as the belligerent opener became the first Australian to score two tons in a Test since Phillip Hughes in Durban five years ago.
Hughes’ two knocks were largely responsible for the defeat that triggered the Proteas’ most recent Test series loss.
The hosts have much work to do if they’re to stop history repeating.
