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

South Africa finished the third day of the deciding Test against Australia at Newlands on 140-4 in their second innings, a lead of 40 runs with six wickets remaining. Nathan Lyon bowled captain Temba Bavuma for 35 late on Thursday to leave the hosts facing another rebuilding job. The ICC scorecard listed Matthew Breetzke unbeaten on 19 and Ryan Rickelton on eight at stumps in Cape Town.

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Australia had begun the day on 330-4, one run ahead, after Josh Inglis and Alex Carey added an unbeaten 145 on day two. ABC News reported that the pair had kept South Africa without a wicket throughout the final session on Wednesday and negotiated 10 overs with the second new ball. Inglis resumed on 85, with Carey on 51.

South Africa improved their position during Thursday's morning session, taking Australia's remaining six wickets for 99 runs, according to BBC Sport. Inglis completed his second Test century before falling for 102, while Carey made 80. Simon Harmer dismissed both batters and finished with 4-104 as Australia were all out for 429, establishing a first-innings advantage of exactly 100.

That left South Africa needing to recover ground before they could set a target. Aiden Markram was caught by Travis Head off Mitchell Starc for one, and David Bedingham fell to Josh Hazlewood for 11. Marques Ackerman provided the largest contribution of the innings with 62 before Cameron Green caught him off Starc, according to the ICC scorecard.

Bavuma resisted for 115 deliveries, hitting one boundary, but could not reach the close. BBC Sport reported that Australia captain Pat Cummins added a close catcher at silly point before Lyon claimed the wicket. The dismissal interrupted South Africa's effort to build a lead, leaving Breetzke and Rickelton to carry the innings into the fourth day.

Starc ended the day with 2-29, while Hazlewood and Lyon had one wicket each. South Africa's second innings had lasted 47 overs at stumps, with Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen still to bat. Neither the match nor the series was settled: Australia still needed six wickets before beginning their final chase.