Rabada dismissed Marsh, Smith and Voges

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Kagiso Rabada claimed three wickets to put Australia on the ropes and leave South Africa just six wickets away from going 1-0 up in Perth.

Starting off the day on 390/6, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander continued where they left off at the end of the third day as they built on their 38-run stand.

The pair were continued to frustrate Australia as the morning progressed and it wasn’t long before De Kock surpassed his half-century.

Just when everything was going swimmingly for the Proteas and Philander was one run shy of his own fifty, Mitchell Marsh provided the breakthrough for the Baggy Greens as he ended De Kock and Philander’s 116-run partnership by dismissing De Kock was 64 off 100 balls, which included five boundaries and two sixes.

De Kock scored his second fifty of the match

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Despite the wicket of De Kock, Australia endured more punishment as Philander and debutant Keshav Maharaj put together a 72-run stand, during which Philander brought up his fifty, before he was clean bowled by Australia captain Steven Smith for 73 off 143 deliveries, which included 10 boundaries and two sixes.

Philander made his fifth Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Following Philander’s dismissal, South Africa stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis declared with his side on 540/8, which set Australia a target of 539 to win.

Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle picked up two wickets apiece, while Smith and Mitchell Starc chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing a mammoth target of 539 to win, Australia got off to a strong start as David Warner and Shaun Marsh amassed a 52-run partnership before Warner was brilliantly run out by an acrobatic throw from Temba Bavuma for 35.

This marked just the second time in Warner’s Test career that he has been run out, with the other instance coming against Sri Lanka in Hobart in December 2012.

Marsh fell just four balls later for 15, but Australia managed to recover from the double blow as Smith and Usman Khawaja accumulated a 92-run partnership.

Just when Australia had regained control of their innings, Rabada struck twice in quick succession as he removed Smith for 34 before Adam Voges was caught behind for just one run.

With the hosts reeling, Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh managed to compile an unbeaten 23-run stand before stumps was called.

Khawaja finished on 58 off 120 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes, while Marsh remained undefeated on 15 off 29 deliveries, which included two boundaries.

Khawaja struck six boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten knock of 58

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Rabada was the only bowler to take any wickets.

Australia ended day four on 169/4 and will continue batting on Monday at 10:30 local time or 02:30 GMT.