The Proteas opener made use of a relatively lifeless surface to register his highest Test, making impressive 152 runs after South Africa had won the toss and opted to bat. It was his fourth Test century, and all of them have come since he made 97. His innings gave the Proteas a strong chance of ending a long season with the result that they crave, although it could have been even better were it not for two late wickets. Bowling with the second new ball, debutant Chadd Sayers removed AB de Villiers and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada in the same over as South Africa fell from 299/4 to 299/6. An unbeaten 25 from a sturdy Temba Bavuma, along with Quinton de Kock's solid start, allowed them to close on 313 for six, still holding the upper hand.

For Australia, the experience was wearing before four wickets in the final session gave them a much-need lift. They were already without their two senior batsmen as well as their top run-scorer in the series, but before the toss it was confirmed that Mitchell Starc was out of the fourth Test as well as the Indian Premier League with a tibial bone stress. Sayers debuted in his absence, and immediately looked like a bowler who could bowl for a long time.

Brief scores: South Africa 313/6 (Aiden Markram 152, AB de Villier 69; Pat Cummins 3-53, Nathan Lyon 1-49) vs Australia.