By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Cricket Australia.
Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram had Australia scrambling before lunch. By the close, Mitchell Starc had ripped through South Africa’s tail, leaving a gripping series decider poised on a knife edge.
South Africa were bowled out for 329 on the opening day of the third Test at Newlands on Tuesday, having surged to 158 without loss before a collapse and a devastating late burst from Starc transformed the contest.
It was a day of extremes. Australia’s decision to bowl first looked badly misguided in the Cape Town sunshine, but Pat Cummins’ side found a way back through Nathan Lyon’s guile, a series of ill-judged shots from the hosts and, finally, Starc’s pace and swing with the second new ball.
The left arm quick finished with six for 72 from 16.3 overs, taking the last four wickets in a remarkable burst that saw South Africa lose four for two.
Lyon claimed two for 71, including the crucial dismissal of Ackerman, who fell five runs short of a maiden Test century.
For much of the morning, however, Australia had little answer to South Africa’s openers.
Ackerman, playing only his first Test series, attacked with conviction, while Markram settled into an assured supporting role. Their opening stand of 158 came at a brisk pace, with Australia conceding 140 runs in 27 overs before lunch.
Markram reached his half century from 81 balls, Ackerman from 62. The pair punished loose deliveries and took advantage of a surface that offered little assistance to the new ball. Australia’s frustration deepened when Travis Head dropped Markram at cover on 39.
Cummins had hoped the surface would offer early seam movement. Instead, Starc was forced to push towards 150km/h in search of a breakthrough, while Lyon initially struggled to contain Ackerman’s attacking instincts.
The game changed after the interval.
Ackerman, having survived a fierce chance back at Lyon, tried to force his way towards three figures. Lyon tossed the ball beyond his advancing bat and Alex Carey completed the stumping. Ackerman departed for 95 from 94 deliveries, having struck boundaries with authority and put South Africa firmly in control.
Markram followed for 78, miscuing a pull against Josh Hazlewood. Starc took the catch at long leg. It was a costly moment for a batter who had looked well placed to reach his ninth Test hundred.
David Bedingham and Temba Bavuma were unable to restore order. Bedingham made 50 before top edging a short ball from Starc, with Hazlewood juggling the catch near the fine leg boundary.
Bavuma was bowled by Lyon for a duck, playing down the wrong line, and Matthew Breetzke fell for two when Cooper Connolly had an lbw decision overturned to claim his first Test wicket.
South Africa had lost five wickets for 29 runs across the middle of the day. The platform was gone.
Australia’s short ball plan continued after tea, with Bedingham and Wiaan Mulder both undone by the tactic. Mulder, dismissed for a duck, has now fallen to short -pitched bowling three times in the series.
The pattern was becoming difficult to ignore: South Africa had runs available, but their batters were repeatedly taking on deliveries they might have left alone.
Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton offered a timely counterattack. Rickelton was measured, Jansen more forceful, and their seventh wicket partnership of 95 gave the innings fresh substance.
Jansen brought up his second consecutive half century, the first time he has achieved that in Test cricket, following his superb 85 in Gqeberha.
The recovery made Australia work for the breakthrough. But when the second new ball arrived, Starc found another gear. A fast, full delivery trapped Rickelton, then an inswinging yorker uprooted Jansen’s off stump.
Gerald Coetzee was bowled soon afterwards, and Starc completed his five wicket haul before dismissing Kagiso Rabada to end the innings.
Four wickets fell in six balls from Starc. South Africa’s last four batters had no answer to Starc’s pace and late movement.
The day had begun with the return of Australia to Newlands for the first time since the ball tampering scandal of 2018, and with Steven Smith ruled out after failing a fitness test on his troublesome neck.
His absence forced a reshuffle and contributed to Australia making four changes, their most in a mid series Test since the aftermath of that scandal.
Matthew Renshaw returned to open alongside Travis Head, Cameron Green came back into the middle order, Josh Inglis replaced Smith and Lyon was recalled at the expense of Scott Boland. Connolly also found a place in the team, with Beau Webster dropped.
South Africa made one change, bringing Coetzee in for the injured Anrich Nortje.
Cummins’ decision to bowl first looked increasingly questionable as the opening partnership grew, but his bowlers eventually made the most of South Africa’s mistakes. Lyon provided the initial spark; Starc supplied the finish.
For the Proteas, Ackerman, Markram, Bedingham and Jansen all passed 50, yet none converted a half century into a hundred. South Africa’s ability to bat deep helped them reach 329, but the late collapse will frustrate them after such a dominant start.
The series is level at 1- 1, with the winner set to claim more than bragging rights. A South African victory would put them in line to take the world’s top Test ranking from Australia and strengthen their position in the World Test Championship race.
Newlands has already delivered a day worthy of the occasion. Australia will begin their reply knowing that, despite the final score, they have dragged themselves back into a contest that once seemed to be slipping away.