DAY 3: Ackerman stands tall for Proteas

The third and deciding Dafabet test between South Africa and Australia is finely poised at tea on day three at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.

Australia lasted just 8.1 overs after the luncheon interval, being bowled out for 429, a first innings lead of 100 but were then reduced to 31 for two before Temba Bavuma and Marques Ackerman went to tea with the home side on 53 for two, a deficit of 47.

The home side fought back brilliantly in the morning session, reducing Australia from their overnight total of 330 for four to 411 for eight with Simon Harmer (37-6-104-4) removing both set batters, Josh Inglis (102) and Alex Carey (80) before Kagiso Rabada (23-1-98-1) trapped Pat Cummins (0) in front and Gerald Coetzee (19-4-70-1) had Mitchell Starc edging behind to Ryan Rickelton.

South Africa needed just 25 minutes after the lunch break to end the Australian innings as Wiaan Mulder (21-5-63-1) had Nathon Lyon caught by Harmer at first slip and then Marco Jansen (22.1-7-60-3) took a sharp catch off his own bowling from the bat of Cooper Connolly (29), leaving Josh Hazlewood unbeaten on four as Australia were bowled out for 429, a first innings lead of 100.

However, the hosts had the worst start possible as Aiden Markram (1) drove Starc (4-0-15-1) straight to Travis Head at mid-off and then David Bedingham (11) pulled Hazlewood (5-0-22-1) straight down the throat of Lyon at deep backward square.

The two shortest men in the South African line-up, Ackerman (33*) and Bavuma (4*) settled the nerves of the Newlands faithful with an unbeaten stand of 22 for the third wicket, with Ackerman looking in superius form, following his 95 in the first innings.

Despite the confidence, Ackerman survived an lbw review shortly before tea against Lyon (1-0-1-0) but the on-field umpire's decision of not out remained as the ball struck Ackerman's pad outside the line of offstump and then in the final over, was almost run out after a mix-up with Bavuma.

Cummins had won the toss on the first morning and asked South Africa to bat first, and the decision looked to backfire as South Africa posted an opening stand of 158 between Markram (78) and Ackerman (95).

Despite Bedingham (50) and Jansen (52) notching up half centuries and a 41 from Rickelton, Starc(16.3-2-72-6) blew the South African lower order away with the new ball under cloudy skies. Starc's spell of 6-12 in six and a half overs dismantled the Proteas shortly before the close, 329 all out.

Lyon (2-72), Connolly (1-41) and Hazlewood (1-59) contributed to South Africa's downfall.

Having begun the second day with an opening stand of 58 between Head (41) and Matt Renshaw (74), Harmer struck twice before lunch, removing Head and Marnus Labuschagne (0) to leave the visitors on 90 for two at lunch.

South Africa again only tasted success twice in the middle session, as Jansen (18-5-55-2) had Renshaw caught behind and then Cameron Green (65) caught in the slips by Harmer.

The evening session belonged solely to Australia as Inglis and Carey added 145 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket to put their side one run in the lead by the close. Carey had struck four boundaries in his 126 deliveries to head off unbeaten on 51 while Inglis was more aggressive, striking nine fours and two sixes from 111 balls to end the day on 85.

The visitors first innings total was built on the back of a wonderful fifth wicket stand of 191 between Inglis and Carey with Inglis bringing up his second test century.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.

AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

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