Josh Inglis struck his second Test hundred as Australia took control on day three of the third Test, with South Africa holding a 40-run lead for the loss of four second-innings wickets at Newlands.
South Africa were bowled out for 329 on day one. Pat Cummins’ side then took a 100-run lead before being dismissed for 429 after lunch.
Alex Carey and Inglis pushed the visitors in front with a fifth-wicket stand of 185. Inglis reached his century off 132 deliveries.
South Africa fight back, then lose their captain
South Africa matched Australia’s lead but found themselves on the back foot later in the afternoon. Aiden Markram (1), Marques Ackerman (62) and David Bedingham (11) were all removed for 132 inside 28.2 overs.
Skipper Temba Bavuma then arrived at the crease and ground down the Australian pace attack. He made 35 runs off 115 deliveries, a strike rate of 30.43, before Nathan Lyon landed a heavy blow.
Lyon drew a beautiful off-spinner around Bavuma’s bat and into his middle stump, removing the South African captain just five minutes before the close. The hosts ended the day on 140 for 4 and will need a big morning on Friday to extend their lead.
Starc strikes early in the second innings
South Africa’s hopes of building a large lead were undone by Mitchell Starc, who came out firing in their second innings and lifted his match haul to eight wickets.
Markram first edged Starc to Travis Head at mid-off in the third over. Josh Hazlewood then angled a shorter delivery, and Bedingham pulled it straight to Lyon at deep square leg.
Ackerman and Bavuma combined well, with Ackerman advancing to 62 off 80 deliveries. Just as he was building momentum, Starc’s bouncer struck his gloves and carried to Cameron Green in the slips.
Matthew Breetzke (19) and Ryan Rickelton (8) will resume on Friday.
Inglis falls short of a double-century push and Australia’s innings wraps up
Inglis, who hit 11 fours and two sixes, began the day needing 10 runs for his milestone. His time at the crease on Thursday was short-lived, however, as Simon Harmer forced him to edge behind to Rickelton for 102 from 135 deliveries.
Harmer was the pick of the South African bowlers. He also trapped Carey for 80, adding to his two wickets on day two, to finish with four for 104.
Kagiso Rabada trapped Cummins for no runs, and Starc was caught behind by Rickelton off a Gerald Coetzee delivery for 11.
Harmer was in the thick of the action again after lunch, taking a brilliant catch in the slips to dismiss Lyon for one off a Wiaan Mulder delivery.