Australia have seized control of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa, with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc claiming two vital wickets to leave the world champions teetering at 140 for four by stumps on day three at Cape Town’s Newlands.
Trailing by just 40 runs with only six wickets in hand, South Africa face an uphill battle to save the match after Starc’s lethal spell dismantled their top order. The left-arm quick, who had already ravaged the Proteas with six wickets for 72 runs in the first innings, struck twice more to remove opener Aiden Markram and the promising Marques Ackerman.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon delivered the knockout punch in the day’s penultimate over, bowling South African skipper Temba Bavuma for 35 to plunge the hosts into crisis mode.
The drama unfolded after Australia posted a commanding first-innings total of 429, built on the back of Josh Inglis’s composed century. The wicketkeeper-batsman compiled exactly 102 runs—matching his debut score against Sri Lanka two seasons earlier—before falling to off-spinner Simon Harmer.
Inglis and Alex Carey had frustrated South African bowlers with a crucial 185-run partnership for the fifth wicket, adding 40 runs to their overnight position. Carey contributed a valuable 80 before also becoming Harmer’s victim, caught at slip.
Facing a daunting 100-run deficit, South Africa’s second innings began disastrously. Markram departed for just one run, driving Starc straight to mid-off. David Bedingham repeated his first-innings mistake, holing out to a hook shot off Josh Hazlewood for 11.
Left-hander Ackerman showed positive intent, racing to 62 with an aggressive approach. He and Bavuma briefly steadied the ship with a 64-run stand for the third wicket, but South Africa were still five runs behind when Starc produced a vicious bouncer that caught Ackerman’s bat and helmet, looping to gully.
Lyon’s dismissal of Bavuma late in the day has left Australia firmly in the driver’s seat. With South Africa’s lower order exposed and the pitch showing signs of wear, the visitors will fancy their chances of wrapping up victory on day four and clinching the series.
The Australian pace attack, led by Starc’s relentless accuracy and hostility, has once again proven why they remain one of the most feared bowling units in world cricket. South Africa’s batsmen will need a monumental effort to deny Australia what appears an inevitable victory.
