Australia stiffened on day three when Nathan Lyon removed Temba Bavuma in the dramatic closing moments

Australian center Nathan Lyon celebrates with his teammates after dismissing South Africa captain Thembu Bavuma (AP Photo) Nathan Lyon struck a crucial blow with the game to end when he dismissed South Africa captain Tembu Bavuma to bolster Australia’s position in the third Test of the series at Newlands on Thursday.South Africa ended the third day on 140/4 in their second innings, but with a deficit of 100 overs, they effectively had a lead of just 40 with six wickets remaining. Matthew Breetzke was unbeaten on 19 while Ryan Rickelton was on eight.Bavuma’s departure came with just five minutes left in the day. Struggling from 115 balls to a score of 35, the South Africa captain tried to push Lyon towards leg but missed a delivery that went through the gap between bat and pad and hit the stumps.It was the seventh time Lyon had dismissed Bavuma, including twice in the ongoing Test.Australia had earlier secured a 100-run first-innings advantage after being bowled out for 429. South Africa’s reply got off to a poor start, with Mitchell Starc dismissing Aiden Markram in the third over after the opener bowled a delivery straight to Travis Head at mid-off.David Bedingham was the next victim shortly before tea when he bowled Josh Hazlewood to catch Lyon in the deep.South Africa’s middle order briefly restored some stability through Bavuma and Marques Ackerman. Ackerman, who scored 95 in the first innings, blasted another half-century off 64 balls and looked set to make a big contribution before Starc dismissed him for 62. A short ball from the Australian pacer hit Ackerman’s helmet grid before coming to slip.Starc finished the day with figures of 2/29 and took eight wickets in the match. Australia will look to press their advantage when play resumes, with the pitch expected to become increasingly difficult for batting.Inglis’ century headlines Australia’s first inningsEarlier, Australia resumed the third day on 330/4 but lost the remaining six wickets for 99 runs to finish on 429.Josh Inglis continued from his overnight score of 85 not out to register his second Test century, reaching the landmark of 132 deliveries. His innings included 11 fours and two sixes. Both of his Test hundreds have come overseas, his first being 102 on debut in Sri Lanka last year.Inglis shared a 185-run fifth-wicket partnership with Alex Carey, who contributed 80 off 168 balls and hit seven fours. Both batsmen were dismissed by Simon Harmer, who represented Inglis and Carey in the first hour.Harmer continued to trouble Australia’s lower order while Kagiso Rabada trapped Pat Cummins lbw for a six-ball duck. Gerald Coetzee then removed Starc, who was caught behind, to leave Australia on 411/8 at lunch.The visitors added just 29 runs after the break, Cooper Connolly scoring 29 off 83 balls, including three fours.Harmer finished with figures of 4/104 while Marco Jansen took 3/60 as South Africa battled back from Australia’s strong start.The three-match series is tied 1-1. Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa bounced back with an innings and 31-run victory in Gqeberha. The third Test will decide the series.

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