South Africa claw back into Cape Town decider as Australia lead narrows

South Africa ended day three of the Cape Town Test on 140 for 4, holding a 40-run lead over Australia with two scheduled days still to play. The third Test decides the series, which is level at 1-1 after Australia won in Durban and South Africa won in Gqeberha.

Australia had the stronger start. They were 330 for 4 at the end of day two, and BBC Sport reported that their last six wickets fell for only 99 runs on the morning of day three, leaving them on 429. Josh Inglis made 102 in that innings. Keshav Maharaj's team-mate Simon Harmer took 4 for 104 for South Africa, and Mitchell Starc had already taken six wickets in South Africa's first innings.

South Africa replied with 329, which left them 100 runs behind. Their second innings started with a hard job ahead of them, and it was not easy. Aiden Markram drove at Starc and was caught by Travis Head at mid-off for 1. David Bedingham made 11 before falling to a pull shot, a stroke played across the body to a short ball, for the second time in the match, this time off Josh Hazlewood.

Marques Ackerman was the top scorer with 62 before Starc dismissed him. Temba Bavuma then batted for 115 balls for his 35. He was out late on day three, trying to force Nathan Lyon through mid-wicket. Starc finished with 2 for 29 in that innings.

The match is a Test, a five-day contest where each side gets two innings. Because a team that is behind after the first innings can be made to bat again straight away, the 40-run lead is valuable but small. Either side can still win from here.

Australia made four changes for this match, and captain Steve Smith was ruled out. Inglis was one of the four inclusions, and his century has given the tourists a platform. South Africa, who levelled the series with an innings and 31-run win at Gqeberha, now need to turn their recovery into a lead that the bowlers can defend.

For casual fans, the story is simple. Australia piled up runs, South Africa got back into it, and the last two days will decide who wins the series.