Lyon removes Bavuma late as South Africa end day three 40 ahead

South Africa finished the third day of the deciding Test against Australia at Newlands on 140-4, a lead of 40 runs, after Nathan Lyon dismissed captain Temba Bavuma shortly before stumps. The ICC scorecard confirmed the closing position in Cape Town on October 29, with two days remaining and six South African wickets still available.

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Australia had earlier been bowled out for 429 in reply to the hosts' 329. Josh Inglis contributed 102, his second Test century, and Alex Carey made 80. According to Associated Press reporting, their fifth-wicket partnership produced 185 runs, providing the foundation for the visitors' first-innings advantage after they resumed the day on 330-4.

South Africa prevented that advantage from growing further through wickets on either side of lunch. Simon Harmer removed both Inglis and Carey and finished with figures of 4-104. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Pat Cummins for nought, while Gerald Coetzee accounted for Mitchell Starc for 11. Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen then took the final two wickets after the interval, according to SABC's report.

The home side's second innings began with two early setbacks. Aiden Markram was caught by Travis Head off Starc for one, and David Bedingham fell to Josh Hazlewood for 11, leaving South Africa 31-2. Marques Ackerman supplied 62 before Starc struck again. The ICC scorecard recorded Starc's figures at the close as 2-29 from nine overs.

Bavuma offered prolonged resistance, facing 115 balls for his 35 and hitting only one boundary. BBC Sport reported that Cummins introduced a silly point before Lyon claimed the captain's wicket late in the day. Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton survived to the close, unbeaten on 19 and eight respectively, leaving the hosts to build on their narrow advantage when play resumes.

The three-match series is level at 1-1, according to AP. Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. No result has yet been decided at Newlands: South Africa still have batting resources remaining, while Australia's eventual fourth-innings target will depend on how far those remaining wickets can extend the lead.