Aussies on the verge

Brad Hodge's superb unbeaten double century has left Australia firmly in control of the first Test against South Africa in Perth. With just one day to go, South Africa need another 406 runs to win, but more realistically have to bat through the day for a draw, with just eight wickets remaining.

bet365 clearly think that Australia will finish them off on Tuesday as they make the home side 2/9 (1.22) for victory, while South Africa, chasing 490 for what would be a world record chase, are a massive 100/1 (101.00), which is not surprising as there are very few sides who've scored 400 in one day against Australia, let alone on the final day of a Test match. The draw is just an 11/4 (4.25) chance.

South Africa are not given much hope by bet365, who make it 5/6 (1.83) that they fail to get to 280, while it's the same price that they exceed that total. Herschelle Gibbs, unbeaten on 17, is 5/6 (1.83) to get 46 or more, while again he's the same price to fall short. His not-out partner, Jacques Rudolph, who has 18, is 5/6 (1.83) to get to 43 or more, and again the same price not to make it that far.