<p><strong>Patrick Cummins special performance keeps Australia in the hunt –Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p>Patrick Cummins, the Australia’s second youngest Test debutant was delighted with his performance which allowed his team to remain in pole position in a must win game against South Africa.</p>
<p>The second Test match was turned on his head by the young bowler, who claimed a special 6-wicket haul in the second innings, which ended the resilience of hosts as they were bundled out for 339 – setting a target of 310 runs.</p>
<p>The start of day 4 was highly eventful for the tourists as they claimed the all important scalps of South African duo, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. The pair had put on 147 for the fourth wicket that almost allowed the Proteas to gain a threshold in the
match.</p>
<p>However, Cummins mercurial bowling changed the equation in favour of the Aussies as he dismissed De Villiers (73) and consequently instigated a late order collapse which almost allowed him to claim a hat-trick.</p>
<p>"It's surreal to be overseas playing cricket for Australia," Cummins said. "To be in the position where we can win a game is certainly special as well."</p>
<p>"A couple of the guys said Tahir wouldn't be the worst batsman to bowl a hat-trick ball at," Cummins added. "I was just trying to bowl it as quick as possible and as full, and at the stumps. Unfortunately he fended it away."</p>
<p>Finally the pacer took the all important wicket of Dale Steyn, who had made a brisk 41, allowing himself to grab figures of 6 for 79 and in return becoming the second- youngest player to reach such feet in the longer version of cricket.</p>
<p>The 18-year-old has now cemented himself as a genuine leader of the attack, leapfrogging the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle. With important assignments coming up for the Aussies on their home soil, playing the raw pacer has now become a necessity
due to the injuries and loss of form to Ryan Harris and Johnson respectively.</p>
<p>The Kangaroos closed Day 4 on 142 for 3, with Ricky Ponting (54) and Michael Clarke, the skipper, batting on 1 not out. If the tourists make it to the finishing line, they will have to thank their newest pace recruit following his special performance which
kept the team in the hunt.</p>
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