South Africa lead by 40 after Inglis century and late Bavuma wicket

South Africa finished the third day of the Cape Town Test against Australia on 140-4 in their second innings, a lead of 40 runs with six wickets remaining. The ICC scorecard confirmed that position at stumps on Thursday, after Australia's first-innings total of 429 had put the hosts 100 runs behind.

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Josh Inglis supplied the main milestone of the Australian innings, scoring 102 for his second Test century. According to Amir Chetty's report from Newlands for the Daily Dispatch, Inglis and Alex Carey extended their fifth-wicket partnership from 145 overnight to 185. Their stand helped Australia establish an advantage before South Africa's bowlers worked through the remaining wickets.

Simon Harmer dismissed both established batters, with Inglis caught behind by Ryan Rickelton and Carey caught at slip by Aiden Markram for 80. Harmer finished with 4-104, while Marco Jansen took 3-60. The Daily Dispatch reported that Australia reached lunch on 411-8 before the final two wickets fell after the interval, leaving South Africa to begin their second innings in arrears.

The reply suffered early setbacks. Markram scored one before Travis Head caught him off Mitchell Starc, and David Bedingham made 11 before falling to Josh Hazlewood, with Nathan Lyon taking the catch. Those dismissals left the hosts on 31-2, according to the Daily Dispatch, increasing the importance of the rebuilding effort from Marques Ackerman and captain Temba Bavuma.

Ackerman went on to make 62 from 80 balls, including eight fours, before Cameron Green caught him off Starc. Bavuma contributed 35 from 115 deliveries but was bowled by Lyon before the close. The ICC scorecard listed Starc's second-innings figures as 2-29, with Hazlewood and Lyon each taking one wicket as Australia removed four of the hosts' top five.

Matthew Breetzke remained unbeaten on 19 and Rickelton on eight at the end of 47 overs. South Africa had moved beyond Australia's total, but the late loss of both Ackerman and Bavuma left the task of extending the lead to the remaining batters. Neither the match result nor a final fourth-innings target had been settled at the close.