By Estea Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: CSA.
South Africa had Australia exactly where they wanted them. Against the ropes, shoulders down, and out of plans.
At 158 without loss under the Cape Town sun, the Proteas’ openers were scoring freely and Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first looked a serious miscalculation.
By stumps, the mood had changed. South Africa were all out for 329, having lost their last four wickets in six balls to Mitchell Starc, whose six for 72 turned a commanding start into a first innings total that may leave the hosts wondering what might have been.
The third Test began with the series level at 1 -1 and the stakes clear. South Africa are seeking a home series victory over Australia and the chance to take the No. 1 Test ranking.
Their emphatic innings and 31 run win in Gqeberha had restored momentum after the 214 run defeat in Durban. On day one at Newlands, they showed both the promise and the fragility that have defined their campaign.
Marques Ackerman was the most aggressive of the openers. His 95 came from 94 balls and included a maiden Test half century, while Aiden Markram made 78 in an innings that looked increasingly assured until a mistimed pull found Starc at long leg.
The pair put on 158, capitalising on a surface that offered little movement and punishing Australia’s loose deliveries. Markram had looked in good touch throughout the series without producing a defining score. This was his opportunity to do so.
Ackerman, meanwhile, played with the freedom of a batter determined to seize the moment.
Neither reached three figures. Ackerman charged Lyon in pursuit of his century and was beaten by the flight, with Alex Carey completing the stumping.
Ackerman admitted after play that that he “left a Test hundred out there,” but it did not seem catastrophic. “You live by the sword and you die by the sword. I’ve learned that throughout my career,” he said. “But yes, I left a hundred out there. I’m not really happy with that. But that’s just good motivation for hopefully trying to get my first one.”
Markram fell soon after, top edging a pull against Josh Hazlewood. South Africa’s most promising passage had ended with two avoidable dismissals.
The middle order could not steady the innings. David Bedingham made 50 but fell to Starc’s short ball, while captain Temba Bavuma was bowled by Lyon for a duck. Matthew Breetzke was trapped lbw by Cooper Connolly for two after Australia successfully reviewed the original decision.
South Africa lost three wickets for 13 runs as the game swung sharply towards Australia. After tea, the short ball remained a productive weapon.
Wiaan Mulder, dismissed for a duck, was caught behind off Starc, the third time in the series that he has fallen to short pitched bowling.
It was a worrying pattern for a batting line up that had already relied heavily on individual contributions. Bavuma’s 179 in Gqeberha had been central to the series being levelled, but this time the top order’s promising start was not converted into the substantial total the conditions appeared to offer.
There were positives. Jansen and Ryan Rickelton added 95 for the seventh wicket, providing resistance when South Africa needed it most. Rickelton was composed, while Jansen gradually opened up, striking boundaries and reaching 52. It was his second successive Test half century, following his 85 in the previous match.
The partnership showed the value of South Africa’s depth, but Starc had the final say. With the second new ball, he removed Rickelton with a full delivery before sending an inswinging yorker through Jansen’s defences. Coetzee and Rabada followed in rapid succession, and Starc finished with the last four wickets in six balls.
It was a stunning finish from a bowler who had been hit hard in the morning. Australia had struggled to make inroads when Ackerman and Markram were together, but Lyon’s breakthrough gave them a foothold, and Starc’s return to the short ball forced South Africa into errors.
South Africa’s team selection had been settled before the toss, with Gerald Coetzee replacing the injured Anrich Nortje. Captain Temba Bavuma had described Coetzee as the closest like for like replacement for Nortje’s role as the attack’s enforcer, pointing to his extra pace and ability to make a major contribution despite having not played a Test for almost two years.
Australia, by contrast, were forced into four changes. Steven Smith failed a late fitness test on his neck, a significant blow on his return to Newlands, where he was Australia’s captain during the 2018 ball tampering scandal. Josh Inglis came in for Smith, Cameron Green returned, and Matthew Renshaw moved back to open alongside Travis Head. Lyon and Connolly also returned, while Scott Boland, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster were left out.
The changes were dramatic, but Australia’s fightback was built on execution rather than circumstance. Lyon dismissed Ackerman and Bavuma, Connolly claimed his first Test wicket, and Starc dismantled the lower order with the new ball.
South Africa will need to be more disciplined with the bat on day two. Their attack now has a total to defend, but 329 may prove less imposing than it should have been after the opening partnership.
The conditions looked favourable for batting for much of the day, though the late movement and variable bounce offered a reminder that Newlands can still make life difficult.
The Proteas have already shown in this series that they can recover from a heavy defeat. Their challenge now is to avoid giving Australia a similar opening. The day got off to a wonderful start , for the Proteas through Ackerman who stated”.
“Playing SA20 has given us a lot of different roles. You’ve got to be quite flexible and make it work,” “When you’ve played it for a long time, you can. It’s also not the first time I’ve faced a new ball. Practising against our fast bowlers in the nets, I know I can manage that and form a gameplan and that it would give me good perspective as to what I wanted to achieve facing the Australian guys.”
Although he played an incredible role, the day ultimately belonged to Starc. The larger question for South Africa is whether they can turn early dominance into a complete performance. The team are World Champions and normally find a way. They will need to do so, on Day 3, if they want to clinch the series.