Day 4 of both ongoing Tests is done, and honestly, both matches are heading the same way. Let me break down where things stand and — more importantly — who's actually going to win.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Matt Renshaw, the man of the match in Durban.
South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test (Durban) — Day 4 Stumps
Australia: 390 (Renshaw 190) & 314/6 declared
South Africa: 284 & 80/2
Target: 421 — South Africa need 341 more runs with 8 wickets in hand
Renshaw followed up his 190 with 82 in the second innings — the man is having the series of his life. And then Pat Cummins did something beautiful: 32 not out off 12 balls, four sixes, and a declaration that screamed confidence.
South Africa are 80/2. On paper, 341 runs with 8 wickets sounds... not impossible? Let me be honest with you: it basically is. Day 5 at Kingsmead, against Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood, with the pitch doing more every session. South Africa would need the two biggest partnerships of the match back-to-back.
My prediction: Australia win by 150+ runs. The only question is whether South Africa survive till tea or fold before lunch.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) — Hasan Mahmud, hat-trick hero.
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Only Test (Abu Dhabi) — Day 4 Stumps
Bangladesh: 346 & 372/7 declared (Litton Das century)
Afghanistan: 240 (Hasan Mahmud hat-trick) & 132/3
Target: 479 — Afghanistan need 347 more runs with 7 wickets in hand
Litton Das's century in the second innings was the knock that killed this contest. Bangladesh batted Afghanistan completely out of the game, then declared with a mountain to climb.
Afghanistan are 132/3. They've shown fight — credit to them — but 347 runs on a wearing Day 5 pitch, against a Bangladesh attack high on confidence after Mahmud's historic hat-trick? I don't see it.
My prediction: Bangladesh win by 200+ runs. This would be a landmark victory — and that hat-trick will be remembered for years.
The Bottom Line
Two Tests, two Day 5s, and I'd be shocked if either one doesn't end in a result tomorrow. Australia and Bangladesh both hold all the cards. Cricket has surprised us before, but some mountains are just too high.
Follow NajamSports.online for the final results tomorrow.