They hold the reins down in South Africa

Temba Bavuma's side on the verge of a historic victory

They’ve huffed and they’ve puffed, but the big bad wolves of cricket have failed to blow this South African house down.

Those who didn’t make the World Test Championship Final dismissed their top-of-the-table finish with a sneer; they’d played only 12 Tests, not the 22 England had, they said.

And, they hadn’t played England or Australia during the two-year cycle, feasting on lesser nations to qualify. But, you can only play what’s in front of you, and that’s what Temba Bavuma’s mob have done on the way to this time and this place.

The Australian attack huffed and puffed too, swelled by a good lead and confident that they’d been here and done this stuff so many times before. Chase 280 odd when you’ve only got half that in the first innings? Tell ‘em they’re dreaming.

Aiden Markram (102n0) and Temba Bavuma (62no) built a house of bricks on the third day.

The South Africans resume on day four, needing just 69 runs to win the title.