JOHANNESBURG, March 30 : took the morning honours against a much-changed Australia, going to lunch on 88 for one on the opening day of the fourth and final test on Friday.
The scandal-hit tourists, reeling from their ball-tampering scandal and led by new captain Tim Paine, made four changes, including a debut for seamer Chadd Sayers, but having won the toss South Africa had few alarms under cloudy skies.
Markram (53) and Hashim Amla (13) will resume in the afternoon, looking for a sizeable total on a wicket that is already taking turn and showing widening cracks as they seek a first home series win over Australia in almost 50 years.
Dean Elgar (19) was the only success for the labouring touring side, and his mode of dismissal was a familiar one, the third time in the series he was caught off a leading edge from the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
The spinner had taken the first two catches himself, but this time the ball was snatched at mid-off by Sayers.
(AGENCIES)
