CRICKET:South Africa will enter the final day of the third Test against Australia in Sydney needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win.
Set an imposing victory target of 376 from a minimum 116 overs, the Proteas were 62 for one at stumps on day four.
Stand-in skipper Neil McKenzie (25) and Hashim Amla (30) will resume the fight for a history-making last-day win — and a series clean sweep — with at least 90 overs to be bowled.
Past run chases at the SCG suggest victory will elude the Proteas on a wearing wicket.
Australia's fourth-innings total of 288 for two in the 2005/06 season against South Africa is the highest winning total in a Sydney Test.
The tourists' task is made more difficult by the absence of skipper Graeme Smith who is nursing a broken finger and is highly unlikely to take any further part in proceedings.
After Australia declared their second innings at 257 for four, Doug Bollinger made the early breakthrough, picking up his first Test wicket after makeshift opener Morne Morkel chipped a catch to Mitchell Johnson at mid-on and went for a duck.
Amla survived a close call on five, edging Peter Siddle past a diving Brad Haddin.