Australia transformed their fortunes on the third day of the Cape Town Test, moving into a position of strength after Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first initially drew criticism. The visitors gained a 100-run first-innings lead and subsequently reduced South Africa to 140/4 by the close of play, granting them a slight advantage in the series decider. Not long ago in this Cape Town Test, Australia looked like they’d signed their own death warrant when Pat Cummins chose to bowl first in pristine conditions. Placing it now slightly in the visiting team’s favour following a gripping third day’s play, but the tables flipped as the game progressed. Australia had already recovered from the supposed misstep at the toss on that opening day courtesy South Africa’s questionable shot-making. Australia’s innings ended on 429 – exactly 100 ahead – and in the knowledge of an encouraging statistic: no team has lost a Test in South Africa after scoring more than 420 runs in their first innings. There might just be room for more table flips before the curtains come down on the Test and the series, if they could channel that again.
Resuming the day at 330/4, Australia capitalized on their solid foundation. Josh Inglis reached his second Test century, adding 15 runs to his overnight total before Simon Harmer enticed an edge to the keeper. The momentum shifted slightly when Harmer dismissed Alex Carey shortly after, while Kagiso Rabada trapped captain Pat Cummins lbw. Mitchell Starc fell to Gerald Coetzee, leaving Australia at 411/8 by lunch. Nathan Lyon and Cooper Connolly were dispatched shortly after the break by Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen, respectively, concluding the innings at 429. Josh Inglis added 15 runs to his overnight score to reach what was just his second ton in Test cricket. But in the same over, Simon Harmer took him out with a flighted ball outside the off-stump, luring him in to nick behind. Already ahead by 82 runs, australia went to lunch at 411/8. Nathan Lyon tried to stick around with Cooper Connolly but was eventually snuffed out after the break for a 25-ball one by Wiaan Mulder.
South Africa faced a daunting task with a 100-run deficit to erase, and their second innings began poorly. Mitchell Starc struck early to remove Aiden Markram, while Josh Hazlewood dismissed David Bedingham, leaving the hosts precarious at 31/2. Marques Ackerman and Temba Bavuma attempted to stabilize the innings, battling for over 20 overs before Starc delivered a sharp 139kmph bouncer that clipped Ackerman’s blade and helmet, carrying to Cameron Green at slip. At stumps, South Africa finished 40 ahead but also four down in their second innings. South Africa made it past 300 but Australia then went on to establish their footing over the next 125.1 overs. The stat alone wasn’t enough to put the squeeze on the hosts. Aiden Markram will perhaps share some of the blame for the first breakthrough as he tamely hit a full ball from the left-armer to Travis Head at cover in the third over. Rising on him at pace, it caught Ackerman by surprise. But it wouldn’t have mattered even if he had taken it, ackerman was told by the umpires to head back as he ran out of time to take his review.
Despite the pressure, Bavuma found support from Matthew Breetzke as the pair occupied the crease for more than 100 deliveries. However, Nathan Lyon struck in the penultimate over of the day, trapping the South African skipper with a delivery that dipped and beat his defensive flick. This late breakthrough ensured Australia finished the day with momentum, though South Africa’s historic batting resilience suggests the game remains live.
Brief Scores: South Africa 329 & 140/4 (Marques Ackerman 62; Mitchell Starc 2-29) trail Australia 429 (Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80, Cameron Green 65; Simon Harmer 4-104, Marco Jansen 3-60) by 40 runs.
