South Africa ended the third day of the first Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday at 140-4 in their second innings, with Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton still batting.
Marques Ackermann was South Africa’s leading scorer with 62 runs before Mitchell Starc sent him back to the pavilion. Temba Bavuma contributed 35 runs before Nathan Lyon dismissed him. At stumps, Breetzke remained unbeaten on 19, while Rickelton was not out on eight, leaving South Africa trailing Australia by 100 runs.
Earlier, Australia secured a 100-run first-innings advantage after posting 429 runs in 125.1 overs in response to South Africa’s total of 329. Josh Inglis anchored Australia’s batting effort with 102 runs, while Alex Carey scored 80, Matt Renshaw contributed 74 and Cameron Green added 65.
Simon Harmer claimed four wickets for South Africa, while Marco Jansen took three. Harmer recorded figures of 4-104 in his 37 overs.
South Africa’s first innings was highlighted by Ackerman’s 95, Markram’s 78, Jansen’s 52 and Bedingham’s 50. For Australia, Starc was the standout bowler, taking six wickets for 72 runs in 16.3 overs.
Australia made an early impact in South Africa’s second innings, with Starc dismissing Markram for just one run and Hazlewood removing Bedingham for 11. Ackerman then steadied the innings with a half-century before Starc ended his knock on 62.
Ackerman and Bavuma put together a 64-run partnership for the third wicket before Lyon broke through late in the day, bowling Bavuma for 35. Rickelton made an immediate contribution after coming to the crease, hitting two boundaries as South Africa reached 140-4 by stumps.
Australia won the toss and chose to field first. The five-day Test, which forms part of the 2026-27 ICC World Test Championship, is set to take place from October 27 to 31.
