SA vs AUS, 3rd Test: Inglis hundred, Starc brilliance puts Australia in control

Scores in brief: South Africa (329 and 140 for 4) lead Australia (429) by 40 runs at the end of play on Day 3 of the third Test.

Josh Inglis scored a second Test century on his return to the side before Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon struck at regular intervals to leave South Africa under pressure in the third Test of the series at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.

South Africa were 140 for four at stumps in their second innings, leading Australia by 40 runs with six wickets in hand. Temba Bavuma’s dismissal in the penultimate over of the day gave Australia another reason for confidence as Lyon found a sharp turn from a surface that is beginning to offer more to the spinners.

South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test: Day 3 Highlights | Scorecard

Australia started the day on 330 for four and went on to post 429, taking a 100-run first innings lead. Inglis and Alex Carey extended their fifth-wicket partnership before Simon Harmer removed both in quick succession. South Africa then soon established themselves in the lower order, but Australia’s lead left the hosts with a lot of work to do.

The series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa responded with an innings and 31-run victory in Gqeberha. The series will be decided by the result in Cape Town, with the winners also set to claim top spot in the Test world rankings.

INGLIS LEADS AUSTRALIA TO 429

Inglis restored to 101? No, he was closing in on his century when the game started, having already built a strong partnership with Carey on Day 2. The pair picked up where they left off, putting on 185 runs to put Australia in a position to push their lead well past 100.

Inglis reached his second Test set from 132 balls, making the most of his return to the side. Carey looked equally comfortable at the other end but fell for 80, missing out on a century of his own. Harmer accounted for both runs to give South Africa a way back into the innings.

The visitors then worked their way through Australia’s lower order. Rabada trapped Pat Cummins lbw for a duck while Coetzee dismissed Starc. Connolly added 29 runs, with Lyon and Josh Hazlewood helping him take his total to 430.

Australia were eventually bowled out for 429, giving them a lead of exactly 100 runs. Harmer finished with four wickets for 104 runs, while Jansen took three for 60.

STARC PUTS SOUTH AFRICA ON THE BACK

South Africa needed a solid start to their second innings but Starc had Markram caught by Travis Head at mid-off for one. The left-arm quick then watched Hazlewood remove Bedingham for 11, with Lyon caught after the batsman attempted another shot.

Ackerman and Bavuma tried to level the innings and added 64 runs for the third wicket. Ackerman followed up his first innings 95 with another half-century, scoring 62 off 80 balls, and looked capable of taking the game away from Australia if he stayed at the crease.

However, the old man found a way. A short delivery pinched Ackerman for a spot and the resulting top edge was caught by Cameron Green at slip. Ackerman was unhappy when he left because he wanted to review the decision, but the time for the review sign had expired. Records later confirmed he was out.

Starc’s two goals took his game to eight. His spell saw South Africa struggle to build a sizeable lead despite Ackerman’s second consecutive half-century.

LYON WILL FIRE BAVUMA LATER

Bavuma struggled to lead South Africa to the stumps alongside Matthew Breetzke after Ackerman’s departure. The skipper faced 115 balls and struggled to hold the innings together after losing early.

Lyon had other plans. In the penultimate over of the day, Bavuma tried to work the ball towards leg but missed a delivery that spun sharply and hit the stumps. He was bowled out for 35, leaving South Africa on 140 for four and Australia with the final breakthrough they wanted before the over.

It was the second time Lyon sent off Bavuma in the match. With the pitch offering more and more turn, the off-spinner could have had a significant say in how the contest unfolded on Day 4.

Breetzke was unbeaten on 19, with Rickelton on eight at the other end. South Africa lead by just 40 runs and their remaining six wickets will need to add significantly more if they are to push Australia to victory.

SOUTH AFRICA IS FACING A TEST OF PATIENCE

The pitch has started to turn and Australia will also have the new ball after the first hour of the fourth day. Starc and Hazlewood will look to make the most of it, while Lyon will be a threat if the surface continues to be sticky.

Inglis expects batting to become more difficult as the match progresses. He said Australia would ideally like to restrict South Africa’s lead to around 200 runs, although the ultimate target will depend on how much the hosts can add.

South Africa have time to recover but another early wicket could leave them facing a steep climb. Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to press home their advantage after a day in which Inglis’ century gave them the lead and their bowlers made sure the hosts couldn’t build one of their own.

– The end