South Africa lead by 40 with six wickets left in Cape Town Test decider

South Africa ended the third day of the deciding Test against Australia in Cape Town on 140-4, a lead of 40 runs with six wickets remaining. A late wicket for Nathan Lyon removed captain Temba Bavuma and interrupted the hosts’ recovery. BBC Sport and ABC reported that Matthew Breetzke remained at the crease heading into day four.

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Australia had earlier been dismissed for 429 in reply to South Africa’s first-innings 329. Josh Inglis made 102, his second Test century, while Alex Carey contributed 80. Simon Harmer dismissed both batters and finished with figures of 4-104. The tourists’ total gave them a first-innings advantage of exactly 100, leaving South Africa needing to erase that deficit before setting a target.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood then struck early in the home side’s second innings. Aiden Markram was caught by Travis Head at mid-off for one after driving Starc, while David Bedingham fell for 11 attempting a pull against Hazlewood. BBC Sport reported that Bedingham had also been dismissed playing a pull in the first innings, when Starc was the bowler.

Marques Ackerman provided a counterattack before falling for 62. According to ABC’s account, a Starc bouncer took an edge and struck his helmet grille before Cameron Green completed the catch. South Africa subsequently rebuilt through Bavuma and Breetzke. Their resistance helped the hosts move beyond Australia’s total, but they were unable to carry that partnership intact through to the close.

Bavuma scored 35 from 115 balls, with only one boundary, before Lyon dismissed him. BBC Sport reported that Australian captain Pat Cummins had brought in a silly point before the wicket, with Bavuma coming forward and trying to hit through the leg side. Ryan Rickelton joined Breetzke, while Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen were still available to bat as South Africa sought a larger advantage.

The series remains level at 1-1, so neither the match nor the series has been decided. Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha, according to Cricbuzz’s results record. The hosts now enter the fourth day with a narrow lead and their remaining batting resources needed to build a defensible target.