After waiting for 24 long years to beat Australia in a Test series on home soil. South Africa decided they could happily wait another day or two. Given the opportunity to ask Australia to follow-on on the third afternoon of the fourth Test. Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis was not in the mood to risk a series outcome by attempting a shortcut. South Africa batted again and they did so with a patience that showed just how determined they are to complete one of the more remarkable series comebacks in recent times.

Faf du Plessis adding 34 runs to the total, South Africa had reached 134 for three, giving them an overall lead of 401 runs. That should really be enough, but the intention is clearly to grind an increasingly haggard Australian side into the dust in a bid to enforce a swift second-innings capitulation. With South Africa likely to rely on just three front-line bowlers to get the job done after Morne Morkel suffered a left side strain, they may need the batsmen to wear the Australians out further on the fourth morning. Aussies skipper Paine's 62 represented his top score since he returned to the Australian side at the beginning of the Ashes.

Brief scores: South Africa 488 & 134/3 (Dean Elgar 39*, Aiden Markram 37; Pat Cummins 2-35) lead Australia 221 (Tim Paine 62, Usman Khawaja 53; Vernon Philander 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 3-53) by 401 runs.