Durban, Oct. 12 -- Australia strengthened their grip on the Durban Test against South Africa at the end of Day Four, needing just six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series.

Resuming the day at 33/0 after bad light curtailed play on Day Three, Australia adopted an aggressive approach. Travis Head was the first to depart, scoring 11 off 18 balls before mistiming a shot off Marco Jansen to hand Proteas captain Temba Bavuma a catch at mid-on, leaving Australia at 43/1.

Nic Maddinson then launched a counter-attack, racing to 48 off just 38 deliveries, with six boundaries and two sixes. However, just as he appeared poised to register his maiden Test half-century, Anrich Nortje breached his de...