South Africa 329 & 140/4; Australia 429 — Proteas lead by 40 runs at stumps on day three
By Marco Jacobs | Kairos Sport
Australia hold the upper hand in the series-deciding third Test at Newlands after an eventful third day left South Africa with a slender 40-run lead and six second-innings wickets remaining.
The Proteas closed on 140/4 after 47 overs, with Matthew Breetzke unbeaten on 19 and Ryan Rickelton on eight. With two days remaining, South Africa have work to do if they are to set Australia a challenging target and keep their hopes of winning the series alive.
Australia’s first-innings total of 429, built around Josh Inglis’s second Test century, gave the visitors a valuable 100-run lead over South Africa’s 329. Alex Carey’s contribution of 80 also proved significant as the Australian lower order helped extend the advantage.
South Africa’s reply got off to a difficult start when Aiden Markram and David Bedingham fell to soft dismissals, putting the home side under pressure early in the innings.
Captain Temba Bavuma attempted to stabilise the innings, while Marques Ackerman counterattacked with an impressive 62. Their efforts helped South Africa erase the deficit and briefly put the pressure back on the Australian attack.
Ackerman, who has enjoyed an excellent Test match, was eventually dismissed by a superb delivery from Mitchell Starc. His departure was a setback for the Proteas, who needed to build on the momentum generated by his attacking approach.
Breetzke then joined Bavuma in a determined partnership that frustrated Australia for much of the final session. The pair negotiated 105 deliveries, offering South Africa some much-needed stability after the loss of Ackerman.
However, Nathan Lyon delivered another important breakthrough late in the day when Bavuma attempted to attack a delivery that demanded greater caution. The captain departed for 35, leaving South Africa at 140/4 and handing Australia renewed encouragement heading into day four.
Breetzke and Rickelton will resume the innings on Friday morning, with South Africa needing to turn their modest lead into a total that gives their bowlers a realistic chance of defending it.
The role of spin could prove decisive. Lyon has extracted considerable turn from the Newlands surface, a development that will concern South Africa as they consider how best to approach the remainder of their innings.
However, the same conditions could work in the Proteas’ favour when Australia bat again. Should South Africa establish a substantial fourth-innings target, Simon Harmer could become a key figure in their attempt to defend it.
The immediate priority, though, is survival. South Africa must negotiate the opening session without losing further wickets and establish a partnership capable of changing the complexion of the match.
Australia have had the better of much of the contest so far, but the match remains alive. The outcome could depend on whether South Africa’s batting line-up can produce the resilience required to turn a precarious position into a competitive one.
Day four promises to be pivotal in determining the destination of the series.