The Proteas need a hero if they want to win the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Wanderers Tuesday.
Already 2-1 up in the series, the hosts are in the driving seat and need seven wickets Tuesday to wrap up the match, while the Aussies still need another 524 runs in pursuit of the 612-run winning target.
And the stage is set for Morne Morkel, playing in his final day of Test cricket, to take the Proteas home.
Despite a horror start to the Test (read page 23), Morkel has forgotten about the side strain that forced him off the field in the Aussies’ first innings over the weekend, to claim both openers in the second innings (2/18).
CAPTAIN’S KNOCK: Centurion Faf du Plessis. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
But he will have to be even braver today as fellow speedster Kagiso Rabada is also battling a lower back injury.
Earlier in the match, South Africa scored 488 all out in their first innings – with Aiden Markram scoring 152 – before Australia replied with 221 all out.
In their second innings, SA posted 344/6 declared, with captain Faf du Plessis finally coming good with a knock of 120.
Australia will continue their second innings on 88/3, with Peter Handscomb (23*) and (Shaun Marsh (7*) at the crease after spinner Keshav Maharaj took the other wicket when he produced a superb ball to trap Usman Khawaja leg before for 7.