South Africa were bowled out for 329 in 82.3 overs on the opening day of the third Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday, October 27. Four South African batters scored half-centuries, while Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets to help Australia fight back after the hosts made a b start.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, South Africa openers Aiden Markram and Marques Ackermann gave their team a solid start, putting together 158 runs for the first wicket. Ackermann scored 95 off 94 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes. He fell just five runs short of a century when Nathan Lyon stumped him off his bowling, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey completing the dismissal.
Markram also contributed with the bat, scoring 78 off 141 deliveries, including 10 fours and one six. Josh Hazlewood dismissed the opener.
Following the opening partnership, Markram added 45 runs for the second wicket with David Bedingham. Bedingham scored 50 off 80 balls, hitting seven fours.
However, South Africa's innings began to lose momentum as Australia picked up wickets at regular intervals. Captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed for a duck, while Matthew Breetzke managed only two runs. Wiaan Mulder also failed to open his account.
Australia's bowlers continued to apply pressure, leaving South Africa with six wickets down for 232 runs. After the b opening stand, the hosts were forced to rebuild their innings.
With six wickets down, Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen steadied the innings with a 95-run partnership for the seventh wicket, taking the score to 327.
Jansen scored 52 off 71 balls, including seven fours. Rickelton contributed 42 off 83 deliveries, hitting five fours.
The partnership helped South Africa move past 300, but the lower order could not sustain the recovery. The hosts lost their final four wickets for just two additional runs, bringing their innings to an end at 329.
Mitchell Starc was Australia's leading wicket-taker, finishing with six wickets for 72 runs in 16.3 overs. The left-arm fast bowler dismissed Bedingham, Mulder, Rickelton, Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada.
Starc's spell helped Australia regain control after South Africa's b start. He recorded his 20th Test innings in which he had taken five or more wickets.
Nathan Lyon claimed two wickets for Australia, while Josh Hazlewood and Cooper Connolly took one wicket each.
The three-match Test series between South Africa and Australia is currently level at 1-1.
