South Africa tighten grip at Newlands: Mulder and Rickelton tons leave Australia facing a mountain

Cape Town: By the close of the fourth day at Newlands, South Africa had placed Australia in one of the toughest positions Test cricket can offer. Centuries from Wiaan Mulder (115) and Ryan Rickelton (101) helped the hosts set a target that would require Australia to complete the second-highest successful run chase in the 137-year Test history of Newlands. South Africa resumed on the fourth morning at 140 for four and lost only one wicket across the first two sessions — Matthew Breetzke, who made 43 before falling to a pull shot and being caught on the boundary, a familiar mode of dismissal for the home side in this Test. There were wickets in a burst after tea as Australia wrapped up the innings, but the day still belonged to the home side and set up an intriguing tussle on Saturday. The credit goes largely to the 154-run sixth-wicket stand between Rickelton and Mulder, who took few risks and accumulated runs steadily. Newlands showed its true colours on day four, and the partnership was as much about eating time as it was about scoring. "It was about trying to win the small moments," Rickelton told reporters. "We knew we were effectively 40 for four this morning and that Australia would come hard at us. It was about spending time at the crease rather than worrying about scoring runs or getting too far ahead of ourselves. We had our plans and needed to stick to them. We knew the longer we batted, the more frustrated Australia would become. Perhaps they expected things to happen quite quickly because of the deteriorating wicket." Australia's bowlers did find help. Spinner Nathan Lyon took 2-101 and extracted considerable turn, while the seamers got variable bounce — some balls climbing past the batsmen's heads, others staying low. Batting was about survival as much as scoring. For Mulder, the century was his fourth in Test cricket. He tried to up the tempo as the innings needed runs and was the last man out, caught on the boundary, bringing the day to a close. Now the contest shifts to Australia's batsmen. They will need to score at more than three runs an over against a South African bowling attack that has had its feet up for more than a day and a half. South Africa's seamers and Lyon are fresh, and the pitch is deteriorating. Newlands history is not on Australia's side either. Chasing a total of this magnitude would be the second-highest successful pursuit in 137 years of Test cricket at the ground. The series context adds further spice. The three-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first Test by 214 runs in Durban and South Africa responded with a victory by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha. Above all, the winner of this match will occupy the number one spot in the Test world rankings, currently held by Australia. For Australia it is a defence of their crown; for South Africa, a home series win and the top ranking are both within reach. Saturday promises to be a fascinating day. Australia toiled through two sessions for a single wicket, then burst through after tea, but Newlands still very much belonged to the home side. South Africa's plan was clear — bat time, wear Australia down and let the pitch do the rest. How Australia answer that plan will decide the Test, the series and the top of the world rankings.