Lyon leads Australia fightback as Ackerman, Markram miss out on tons

South Africa openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram threw away centuries on a benign Newlands surface as a new-look Australia fought back in the second session of day one after a torrid start to the deciding third Test.

Ackerman and Markram had cashed in on Australia skipper Pat Cummins' shock decision to send South Africa in to bat with a 158-run opening partnership under the Cape Town sunshine.

Australia's attack looked uncharacteristically ragged, but were gifted wickets by Ackerman and Markram before recalled offspinner Nathan Lyon clean bowled South Africa captain Temba Bavuma for a duck.

Left-arm spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly capped Australia's strong session by trapping Matthew Breetzke lbw for 2 in an overturned decision to claim his first Test wicket.

Without dropped quick Scott Boland, Australia's attack had failed to fire but Lyon has justified his selection to be the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 51 from 15 overs as South Africa lost 3 for 13 to let slip a commanding position.

Australia still have a lot of work to do after Ackerman set the tone for South Africa with a rollicking maiden Test half-century. He fell for 95 off 94 balls when he was stumped after charging Lyon, while Markram - who had played a support role - holed out to Josh Hazlewood for 78.

Their aggressive partnership rattled an Australia side that endured one of their most listless sessions under Cummins when they were pummelled for 140 runs in 27 overs before lunch.

It was a tough start for Australia in their return to Cape Town since the sandpaper scandal in 2018 much to the delight of a near capacity crowd.

Australia were rocked before the match by Steven Smith being ruled out after he failed to recover from a neck injury sustained in their big second Test defeat. Smith had a brief net this morning while wearing a bandage or heat patch on his neck then wasn't seen for about half an hour.

He was part of mass changes with Lyon, Connolly, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis recalled while Boland, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster were dropped.

It was the first time Australia had made four changes since the Johannesburg Test in the aftermath of the sandpaper scandal.

Cummins became the first captain to elect to bowl at Newlands since Faf du Plessis in 2019 against Pakistan. He had hoped for early seam-friendly conditions, but the new-ball produced little threat against Markram and Ackerman, who were rubbing their hands together.

Markram has looked in sparkling touch through the series without making a really big score. He knew this was a golden opportunity and, after a couple of watchful overs, stroked two superb boundaries off Starc.

With little movement off the surface, Starc ramped up his pace to near 150 kph and almost had Ackerman caught off the glove at leg slip but the ball flew past a diving Lyon.

That was the only nervy moment for South Africa in the opening half-an-hour as Cummins stepped up determined to rectify the situation. But Markram counterattacked with a huge blow over midwicket after launching into an innocuous short delivery.

Cummins in the 11th over turned to Lyon, desperate to make an impact after making way for Boland in the second Test. But he was expensive with Ackerman's confidence rising after smashing a six down the ground and soon he raised his bat having notched his half-century off 62 balls.

Australia's misery was complete just before lunch when Travis Head dropped a straightforward chance at cover to reprieve Markram on 39, leaving Mitchell Starc to bite his collar on the way back to his bowling mark.

Ackerman did not decide to shut up shop before the interval as he launched into Starc with four consecutive boundaries to punctuate South Africa's dominant session. He kept the foot down straight after the break, but had luck when he smashed straight back to Lyon who could not hang on to a fierce chance.

An increasingly edgy Ackerman attempted to reach his maiden century with a mighty blow as he charged down the wicket but was outfoxed by Lyon, who tossed it past the bat and Alex Carey completed a simple stumping.

The game calmed down significantly as Australia attempted to claw back into the contest. David Bedingham took his time and was rewarded with a superb cover drive off Hazlewood to get off the mark.

Boundaries were harder to find, but Bedingham and Markram rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Markram appeared set to cruise to a ninth Test century until he miscued an attempted pull shot off Hazlewood that was well caught by Starc low down at long-leg.

It was a wicket out of nowhere, but Australia's unexpected fightback continued when Bavuma played down the wrong line as Lyon punched the air in delight.