Ponting's Sporting Declaration Leaves Hosts Vulnerable to Series Whitewash

Despite dominating this Test match for much of the first four days, Australia will begin the final day facing the possibility, albeit slight, of losing to South Africa for a third consecutive time courtesy of a sporting declaration from Ricky Ponting that left the tourists requiring a fourth innings total of 376 to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.

South Africa finished the fourth day on 62-1 needing a further 314 on the final day, with opener Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla well set on 25 and 30 respectively.

Australia's total of 257-4 declared was built with contrasting contributions from all of the top five batsmen, who were rarely troubled by a tired attack on a pitch that looks dreadful but played far better than anyone predicted.

Matthew Hayden's stuttering 39 ended with an inside edge on to his stumps against Morne Morkel and Ponting departed in similar fashion for a fluent 53 from just 57 deliveries, but Simon Katich labored through the entire morning session for just 20 runs before falling lbw to Dale Steyn for 61 from 136 balls.

Michael Hussey made his first meaningful contribution of the series with an unbeaten 45 but required 94 deliveries at a time when quicker runs would have enabled Ponting to give his bowlers even longer to seek the nine wickets they require in the absence of Graeme Smith with a broken finger. Michael Clarke, like his captain, made light work of the occasionally variable bounce in compiling 41.

Smith's absence prompted an unexpected move by the tourists to promote Morkel to open the batting but his admirable first-innings career best of 40 was 40 better than he managed second time around – Doug Bollinger collecting his first Test wicket with a chip to mid on.

"If things go well and we survive the first couple of sessions reasonably well intact then we'll reassess the situation at tea on the final day," the Proteas coach Mickey Arthur said afterwards. "We have a dressing room full of players who will try their damndest not to lose but, if the opportunity arises, then we'll think about winning."

Smith denied that he would bat one-handed if the situation was desperate enough but said his team would not be settling for a draw with a day remaining. "Certainly not. It's a massive target but, as we've already shown on this tour, we're not afraid of, or daunted by, making a bit of history."

Hussey admitted that the final session had not gone according to plan but remained confident: "We weren't happy with taking only one wicket in the last two hours but it's nice to finally be in a position to win a Test match. I think the wicket will play a few more tricks on the last day and we're confident we've got the bowlers to win the game."