Australia seized firm control of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa after spinner Nathan Lyon struck late on the third day at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday. Lyon bowled Proteas captain Temba Bavuma just five minutes before stumps, leaving the hosts struggling at 140-4 in their second innings, still trailing by 40 runs overall.
South Africa had earlier shown resilience through a gritty 62-run partnership from Marques Ackerman, but regular breakthroughs from the Australian bowling attack eroded the middle order. Australia earlier posted 429 in their first innings to secure a crucial 100-run lead, spearheaded by a brilliant century from Josh Inglis and a solid 80 from Alex Carey before a lower-order collapse.
Match Situation at Stumps
- South Africa finished day three at 140-4 in their second innings, trailing by 40 runs with six wickets remaining.
- Temba Bavuma was dismissed for 35 off 115 balls by Nathan Lyon just before the close of play.
- Marques Ackerman top-scored for the hosts in the ongoing innings with a fluent 62 from 80 deliveries.
- Australia secured a 100-run first-innings advantage after being bowled out for 429 earlier in the day.
Innings Breakdown and Outlook
Resuming the morning session at 330-4, Australia lost their remaining six wickets for 99 runs as spinner Simon Harmer carved through the batting lineup to finish with 4-104. Josh Inglis converted his overnight score into a magnificent test century, reaching 100 off 132 balls, while Alex Carey chipped in with 80 runs to extend Australia’s dominance. South Africa’s second innings suffered early setbacks when Mitchell Starc dismissed Aiden Markram cheaply, followed by Josh Hazlewood removing David Bedingham. Although Ackerman fought back valiantly, his dismissal off a sharp Starc bouncer left the home side vulnerable. With the three-test series finely balanced at 1-1 following victories for Australia in Durban and South Africa in Gqeberha, the touring side sits firmly in the driver’s seat heading into day four on a pitch expected to deteriorate further.
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