Australia take control in Cape Town as South Africa close just 40 ahead

Australia strengthened their position in the deciding third Test in Cape Town after South Africa finished day three on 140-4, a lead of just 40 runs. According to BBC Sport's match report, the hosts lost captain Temba Bavuma shortly before the close after earlier dismissing Australia for 429. The result remained unsettled, with two days of the match still to play.

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South Africa had started the day by taking Australia's final six wickets for 99 runs, limiting the tourists' advantage to exactly 100 after their own first-innings total of 329. Josh Inglis reached 102, his second Test century, while Alex Carey contributed 80. Spinner Simon Harmer dismissed both batters and finished with figures of 4-104, helping bring Australia's innings to an end before South Africa began their attempt to erase the deficit.

The hosts then lost two established top-order batters cheaply. Aiden Markram made one before driving Mitchell Starc to Travis Head at mid-off. David Bedingham fell for 11 to Josh Hazlewood while attempting a pull, having also been dismissed playing that shot in the first innings. BBC Sport reported that Starc had struck Bedingham in the chest with a short ball before Hazlewood took his wicket.

Bavuma provided a longer spell of resistance, scoring 35 from 115 deliveries and hitting only one boundary. He shared a partnership lasting 17.3 overs with Matthew Breetzke after opener Marques Ackerman had been dismissed by Starc. The captain had previously scored 179 in South Africa's second-Test victory in Gqeberha, the result that made the Cape Town match the series decider.

His dismissal came with four minutes remaining in the day's play. Australia captain Pat Cummins brought in a silly point for Nathan Lyon, and Bavuma subsequently tried to force the spinner through mid-wicket after advancing from his crease. Lyon's late breakthrough left South Africa four wickets down and prevented Bavuma from carrying his lengthy innings into the fourth morning.

Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton remained at the crease, with Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen still to bat. South Africa therefore retained batting resources, but their advantage was narrow. Harmer's four wickets and the turn Lyon found offered evidence of spin's role in the match, while the series winner would also finish on top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings, BBC Sport reported.