Stumps South Africa 329 and 387 (Mulder 115, Rickelton 101, Ackerman 62, Starc 3-65) lead Australia 429 (Inglis 102, Carey 80, Renshaw 74, Harmer 4-104, Jansen 3-60) by 287 runs
This engrossing series between the top two teams in the world is headed for a nerve-jangling climax after Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder produced brilliant centuries on day four as South Africa set Australia a fourth-innings chase of 288 in the third Test.
South Africa were dismissed in the last over for 387 in their second innings in a terrific fightback after trailing on the first innings by 100 runs. Australia will face a tough chase on a turning Newlands surface after Rickelton's 101 off 219 balls and Mulder's 115 off 221 turned the match on its head.
South Africa were in a hole at 181 for 5 until they combined for a 154-run sixth-wicket partnership that has set up a thrilling finish. They showcased patience and application to steer a much more resolute batting effort from South Africa after their reckless approach earlier in the match.
With Rickelton and Mulder in total command, South Africa seemed set for an even bigger total until suffering another lower-order collapse. They did not help their cause after gifting Australia, who used eight bowlers, several wickets.
The twists continued late in the day as Mulder powered to his fourth Test century and combined with Kagiso Rabada for an invaluable 36-run last-wicket partnership. Mulder fell on the third last ball of the day's play when he holed out to Pat Cummins.
Matthew Breetzke was the only batter to be dismissed in the opening two sessions after on 43 he failed to execute a pull shot off Cummins that was top-edged to fine-leg. It was Cummins' first wicket since the opening Test, ending a barren run of 374 balls since he had last struck.
Rickelton, who has a top Test score of 259, was especially fluent through the off side as he registered a stellar third Test ton. But Rickelton was run out in a big mix-up after running down for a single, thinking Mulder's reverse sweep had gotten past Josh Inglis at backward point. Inglis, however, produced a superb stop and threw to Marnus Labuschagne, who knocked off the bails with Rickelton well short.
Marco Jansen holed out for a duck after falling to a Mitchell Starc short ball, another South Africa batter to succumb rather tamely to a bouncer in this match.
Australia were left frustrated for much of the day's play, but toiled manfully and fielded spectacularly. Cummins had to go deep into the bag, utilising left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly and part-timers Matt Renshaw, Travis Head and Labuschagne who produced significant turn with his legspin.
Australia will still be confident of chasing down the total on a surface that has been good for batting. Like counterpart Nathan Lyon, who finished with 2 for 101 off 44 overs, offspinner Simon Harmer looms as the main threat given the large footmarks on the surface.
South Africa resumed at 140 for 4 with a lead of 40 runs at the start of the day as they started their quest to build a big total and ensure Australia faced a challenging fourth-innings chase.
Cummins didn't waste any time and immediately deployed Lyon, riding high after clean bowling captain Temba Bavuma, late on day three. He encountered a more resolute effort, with Rickelton and Breetzke focused on survival.
It took almost 20 minutes into the day's play for the first boundary when Rickelton rocked on the back foot to punch Lyon through the covers. Runs were hard to come by against accurate bowling, with the tension heightening as Breetzke poked his tongue out at Starc amid a verbal exchange.
Only 31 runs were scored by the drinks break, but South Africa didn't mind even though they would have ideally hoped to shift through the gears before the second new ball. Breetzke did well to thwart Lyon, carefully focusing on the sharp turn from the rough. He did have his heart in his mouth after a wicked delivery spun through his defence and only just missed hitting the off stump.
Having faced more than 100 balls, Breetzke felt more comfortable and hit a superb boundary through the covers off Cummins, who was still searching for an elusive wicket. In a rare sight, Breetzke went after Lyon with a slog sweep that rocketed to the boundary as the partnership reached fifty. But Breetzke could not help himself much to the relief of Cummins, who finally celebrated a wicket.
The pressure grew on southpaw Rickelton, who didn't have to quite agonise over the footmarks like the right-handed batters. He stroked Lyon for a sublime boundary down the ground to notch 1000 career Test runs and picked up the scoring pace after lunch.
With the second new ball available, all eyes were on Starc after he ran through South Africa's lower-order with extraordinary swing late on day one under overcast skies. He bowled one final delivery with the old ball before immediately leaking four leg byes in an anti-climax. Starc could not conjure much swing under the sunshine, with the batters looking untroubled other than when Mulder edged past gully in a nervous moment.
Lyon was brought back into the attack just five overs into the second new ball, but could not create any opportunities.
Rickelton entered the nineties with a sublime late cut as South Africa's lead passed 200. He continued to defy Starc, but did have a rare close call when he almost played the ball back onto his stumps.
Mulder bludgeoned a boundary to reach his half-century off 138 balls, but Australia were able to contain the run rate as Cummins resorted to a short-ball tactic.
Unlike several of their teammates, Rickelton and Mulder were largely not tempted by the shorter deliveries as their partnership passed 150.
Rickelton did not appear rattled by being mired in the nineties for a considerable period, stroking through the leg-side to bring up his century. He looked set to bat through the day until his run out from nowhere triggered an all-too-familiar clump of wickets.
Mulder appeared likely to be stranded short of his century until stroking Lyon through the covers before jumping for joy as he celebrated his milestone with gusto.