Inglis century, Starc strikes hand Australia the advantage

Offspinner Nathan Lyon again outfoxed South Africa captain skipper Temba Bavuma in a pivotal moment late on a gripping day three as Australia worked over South Africa's undisciplined top-order to move firmly into the box seat of a series victory in Cape Town.

Trailing by 100 runs at the start of the second innings, South Africa overcame a shaky start, with Bavuma giving his side hope after coming to the crease at 31 for 2. But less than 10 minutes before stumps, Bavuma's gritty 115-ball knock ended when he tried to whip to the leg side only to miss Lyon's fizzing delivery that spun sharply and rattled the stumps.

South Africa reached the close effectively at 40 for 4 and with a lot of work to do on a Newlands surface that is starting to play tricks with Lyon looming large.

Despite looking proppy at times, left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has also threatened to wreak havoc, having dismissed openers Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman to give him eight wickets for the match.

Hoping to claw back into the match, South Africa had looked to Markram and Ackerman after they had combined for a 158-run partnership in the first innings. Markram loomed as a key given his strong record against Australia, and he had been in good touch through the series without going on to make a really big score. But Markram made just 1 after hitting Starc straight to mid-off in a soft dismissal.

David Bedingham, fresh off a fluent half-century in the first innings, made his intent clear with a commanding cover drive off Starc that rocketed to the boundary. But for the second time in the match, Bedingham succumbed to the short delivery when he top-edged Josh Hazlewood to deep square leg. It was a particularly disappointing dismissal for South Africa after a slew of their batters threw away wickets to let slip a commanding first innings position.

The pressure told on Ackerman, who fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test century with 95 in the first innings, when he almost was run out before tea after setting off for a single that was never on but Cooper Connolly threw wide from cover.

Ackerman and Bavuma dug in to thwart Australia's push, navigating Lyon with aplomb. Bavuma notched 4000 Test runs and got through a probing spell from Pat Cummins, surviving a big shout for lbw that Australia unsuccessfully reviewed.

Having looked unsettled by the situation, Ackerman found confidence with a superb pull shot off Hazlewood before skipping down and whacking Lyon to the mid-off boundary.

Ackerman reached his second half-century of the match, this one off 64 balls, before falling on 62 to a searing bouncer from Starc that gloved onto his helmet and carried to slip. Ackerman did not review in time and lingered on the ground in confusion, although replays confirmed his dismissal.

Matthew Breetze started slowly before stroking his first boundary with a lovely straight drive off Cummins, still searching for his first wicket since the opening Test. He looked solid as the partnership grew, but Bavuma's wicket in the shadows meant South Africa were staring down the barrel.

Earlier, Australia were bowled out midway through the second session, having built a vital lead although it threatened to be larger when they were 370 for 4.

Josh Inglis hit his second Test century with 102 off 135 balls and shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 185 with Alex Carey, who made 80. Both batters were dismissed by Simon Harmer, who was South Africa's most potent bowler and he finished with 4 for 104 off 37 overs.

Inglis made the most of his opportunity after replacing an injured Steven Smith, ruled out with a neck injury sustained in the second Test. Having long been on the fringes, Inglis had not played Test cricket since December and wasn't considered for selection in the opening two matches due to a finger injury.

Playing his first red-ball match since March in the Sheffield Shield, Inglis started scratchily before superbly shifting gears as his innate aggression eventually came to the fore. His knock added to the ton he made on Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2025.

Australia started the day's play at 330 for 4 with a lead of one run as they eyed a big first innings lead.

Kagiso Rabada had to wait to bowl after spending some time off the field on day two due to stomach cramps. The burden fell on Marco Jansen, who was comfortably South Africa's best seamer on day two. But he couldn't get his tail up like he memorably did to remove Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw in quick succession earlier in the innings.

Jansen's struggles were evident when he bowled a beamer to Carey, who ducked safely out of the way. The bowlers were not helped by sloppy fielding with Inglis entering the nineties after Gerald Coetzee misfielded at mid-on to continue his tough return to Test cricket.

Rabada entered the attack 30 minutes into the day's play, hoping improved health might spur a better performance after going wicketless on day two. He was left frustrated after producing an edge off Carey only for Harmer to drop a catch low to his left at slip.

Harmer's woes were compounded by his finger being split open, although fortunately not on his bowling hand. Having bandaged the wound, Harmer was deployed into the attack only to be reverse-swept brilliantly by Inglis, who reached his century in style.

But Harmer finally ended the partnership by catching the outside edge of Inglis, who coincidentally fell for the same score as his only previous Test century. Harmer did his best to rally South Africa, snaring Carey with a tossed-up delivery that was well caught low down by Markram at slip.

As has been the trend in this series, wickets fell in clumps. Australia's collapse of 3 for 10 was complete when Rabada had Cummins lbw for a duck in a decision that was upheld on DRS, with ball-tracking returning umpire's call.

South Africa hoped to wrap up the lower-order quickly but Starc provided resistance and supported Connolly as Australia passed 400. Coetzee, playing his first Test since November 2024, had some belated cheer after a wayward bowling effort when he nicked off Starc for 11.

Connolly farmed the strike, refusing singles as he defended well while picking up the occasional boundary. But he was left shaken after ducking into a fierce short ball from Jansen that cannoned into the helmet.

Connolly continued batting after a concussion test, but his 83-ball knock ended when he returned a catch to Jansen.