Due to the events of the third day of the Cape Town Test largely commanded the proceedings of the Day 4 as Australia appeared to look out of focus throughout the play.
Before the first delivery was bowled, the Australian team gave the spectators a shocker as Tim Paine was appointed as the captain for the remainder of the Test match.
The entire Sandpaper gate was orchestrated by the said ‘leadership group’ of Australia. As a result, both Steve Smith and David Warner stepped down from their coveted positions with immediate effect.
Bowling unit of Australia appeared out of sorts, keeping in mind the events unfolding prior to the start of play. However, South Africa looked to take advantage of the situation and kept on extending their lead.
Both Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers continued with their fluent innings from last evening before being dismissed on 65 and 63 respectively.
One just cannot keep Vernon Philander out of a Test match at Cape Town as this time around he contributed with the bat, if not with the ball.Philander held the innings together for South Africa with his knock of 52 which came of just 79 deliveries.
Notably, the hosts were bundled out after posting a mammoth 373 in the second innings, batting the Australians out of the game. Australia was given a monumental target of 430 and a day and a half to survive in order to save the match.
Interestingly, for the Kangaroos, it was the triplet of Lyon, Cummins and Rabada who bagged three wickets each.
Australia, in their attempt to save the match, batted until tea in a resolute fashion without losing any wicket. Also, the prime perpetrator from the Sandpaper Gate, Cameron Bancroft, and David Warner, looked to make a statement with their approach.
However, it all escalated too quickly for the Australians as a major collapse handed South Africa win, before stumps on Day 4.
The visitors lost all ten wickets within a session to be bowled out for a humiliating total, to add insult to injury to the Australian fans. From 57-0, the Baggy Greens were dismissed for a paltry 107.
Yet again, it was Morne Morkel who orchestrated the Australian downfall as he chipped in with another five-wicket haul to his name and ending up with 9 wickets to his name. Due to all the non-cricketing reasons, the Test match was the most talked about on Twitter.
Here’s a look at how Twitter reacted
This young lad trying to hand Nathan Lyon a sheet of sand paper???? #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/FMsSJGhFtv
— The LeftBacks (@LeftBacks) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/azadessa/status/977932153794301953
This is not fair!!! We expected life time ban for all cameramen, 5 years ban on all umpires and 3 match ban on all SA players??? Why any punishment for Aussie players, we expect awards and rewards for them…#SAvAus #SandpaperGate #SteveSmith
— Jigish S (@jigishs) March 25, 2018
Meek surrender by Australia. Proteas have punished Aussies. ICC haven't.#SAvAUS
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/brent_naude/status/977815249226289152
Nathan Lyon refuses to autograph the kid’s sheet of sandpaper, with a smile on his face. #SAvAUS #Sandpapergate pic.twitter.com/5f1LKC9Uku
— I was… (@seriyaaz) March 25, 2018
The real winners of the Australian ball tampering are England. Everyone has forgotten they got bowled out for 58 this week. #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/sA15PvmGxA
— Ben Karpinski (@followthebounce) March 25, 2018
Rabada was banned for 2 Test matches for playing cricket aggressively yet legally.
Turns out the match referee was being delusional and Rabada successfully appealed.
Steve Smith cheats and confesses. He is banned for one match.
Everybody say it loud – Fuck the @ICC!!!#SAvAUS
— Khaya Sithole (@CoruscaKhaya) March 25, 2018
So Steve Smith and David Warner are standing down as captain and vice-captain for the rest of this Test.
Classy.
Not enough integrity to resign, but enough to hand leadership to someone else in a Test you're about to lose by plenty.
Well played, Tapey McTapeface.#SAvAUS— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) March 25, 2018
If you only get a 1 Match ban and hit with a fine over admitting to cheating as an International Captain!! … If the ICC are going by their list of sanctions against certain actions I think it’s time they were updated … #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2018
How the hell has the Vice Captain of this Australian Team & all the Leadership group not been penalised !!!!!!! #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheMasterBucks/status/977902143326715906
only if you accepted the kind offer #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/i46wtY1yQC
— elprototype (@Elprototype6) March 25, 2018
Tim Paine named captain as he happened to be out of the room when ball tampering plan hatched. #SAvAUS
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) March 25, 2018
So Steve Smith gets a 1 match ban for deliberately cheating, with planning, 2 match ban for Rabada for being rude, Pakistani bowlers getting 5 years for 2 no balls ?… this is ICC #SAvAUS @MichaelVaughan
— Abbas (@AbbasHamid12) March 25, 2018
#SAvAUS they were so much banking on KG being suspended now had to resort to other means pic.twitter.com/Y8dgQjXKIm
— Ncibane041 (@Nojaholo_Leta) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/SihleTweets/status/977916919125893120
Busted#SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/udNZv7j9Zo
— Gerhard (@Gerhard_Coney) March 25, 2018
If this was a boxing match the ref would call a halt. Bouncers, baying crowds, the hosts scenting blood, deposed leaders, controversy – gripping sport on a weekend when football nowhere in sight #SAvAus
— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat) March 25, 2018
So Smith’s first innings runs will count towards his average as captain and second not? ?#SAvAUS
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/tafferoni99/status/977933933768830978
at one stage Australia were 57/0, all out for for 107.#SAvAUS
— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) March 25, 2018
It's such a pity that the ball tampering scandal will overshadow the fact that Australia have just lost by 322 runs. #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/SJmiA04RxV
— Chris Lutton (@ChrisLutton92) March 25, 2018
A fitting collapse this. #SAvAUS
— Peter Truesdale (@pedrogerardo23) March 25, 2018
Tim Paine's in a rush to do the post-match captain's interview#Cricket #SAvAUS
— Zvon (@LLBoban) March 25, 2018
Elgar with 4 catches ..what happened mate ?? #SAvAUS @billz_25 congrats on this win
— Veeejeah (@veeejeah) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/Matt_Mogotlane/status/977932120063709186
https://twitter.com/FNO_India/status/977932067567783938
Are our farmers still gonna get Visas after this? #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/8UmaGUAyZD
— Tshepo (@tsheponage) March 25, 2018
South Africa has buried Australia at Cape Town. #SAvAUS
— sabuktgeen (@sabuktgeen) March 25, 2018
WHAT A MAGNIFICENT WIN FOR SOUTH AFRICA AT CAPE TOWN!! As for Australia, this has been a NIGHTMARE.. #SAvAUS
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) March 25, 2018
Australia went from 57/0 to 95/9! Collapse of epic proportions? #SAvAUS
— DREAM DIMINISHED? (@Kohlity7692) March 25, 2018