Careless South African dismissals hand Australia a route to series win
South Africa’s careless dismissals on day three of the third Test in Cape Town gave Australia a route to a series win, with the Proteas 140-4 at the close of play on day three of five.
Third Test, Cape Town (day three of five) South Africa 329 & 140-4: Ackerman 62; Starc 2-29 Australia 429: Inglis 102; Harmer 4-104 South Africa lead by 40 runs Having taken the last six Australian wickets for 99 runs in the morning despite Josh Inglis' second Test century, the Proteas began their second innings facing a deficit of exactly 100. Batters gifted simple chances to Australia, prompting comparisons with past lapses by England and drawing a reminder that England have a tour of South Africa to come this winter.
Aiden Markram and David Bedingham provided the most costly returns on day three, with Markram driving Mitchell Starc straight to mid-off for one from the fullest of the six balls he faced. Bedingham repeated a fault from the first innings, top-edging a pull to Josh Hazlewood off Starc; Hazlewood took the wicket. "That is just absolutely soft from David Bedingham," said former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander. "He knew they were going to target him in that zone. For the second time in the Test, he has fallen to the same ploy."
The score of 11 for Markram followed domestic form noted in the match report, with prior contributions of 49, 46 and 50 in his other four innings; the article states he has got in but has not made a match-winning contribution. Bedingham's dismissal continued a pattern: "It was the fifth time he has been dismissed pulling in his 18 Tests. On average he gets out playing that shot once every 13 deliveries," the report records.
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith assessed Bedingham’s technique: "He never looks in the right position to play the pull or hook shot," Smith said. "He is always off balance. He is never in a strong position. You think about best pullers in the game they have a strong base. He is pirouetting on one leg. [South Africa great] Hashim Amla just put the pull shot away for a phase. That is what a player like Bedingham needs to think about."
Temba Bavuma resisted for 115 balls and hit only one boundary, anchoring a 17.3-over stand with Matthew Breetzke after opener Marques Ackerman’s brisk 65 ended when Starc bounced him out. With four minutes remaining in the day, Australia captain Pat Cummins shifted a field for spinner Nathan Lyon; Bavuma stepped out, attempted a force through mid-wicket and was out, prompting celebrations from Australia. "The vicious turn Lyon found means any chase over 200 would not be straightforward for Australia," the match report adds.
Simon Harmer took earlier wickets, dismissing Josh Inglis and Alex Carey (80) on his way to figures of 4-104, while Australia remained largely in control across the first three days as South Africa faltered at key moments. At stumps Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton were at the crease, with Test triple-centurion Wiaan Mulder to come, followed by Marco Jansen and the tail; the report concludes that this still appears a tall order.
The winner of the third Test will finish the series top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings; South Africa reached stumps 140-4, a slender 40-run lead over Australia.
