Australia have a first innings lead of 100 runs after the tourists were bowled out for 429 during the second session of day three of the third Test in Cape Town. Live updates below!
Josh Inglis’ second Test century and Alex Carey’s 80 led the way for Australia as they added 99 runs to their overnight total, but lost six wickets.
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MATCH CENTRE: Live scores from the second Test
Follow all the action from day two of the deciding Test between Australia and South Africa below. Can’t see the blog? (Click here)
Cooper Connolly dug in with the tail for a patient 29 from 83 balls to frustrate the South Africans before being the final wicket to fall.
The youngster in his second Test put on 23 with Nathan Lyon (1) in a gutsy effort that included being struck on the helmet by Marco Jansen.
But once he only had Josh Hazlewood (4*) for company, Connolly chased quick runs and smacked one back at Jansen to fall caught and bowled.
Earlier, Australia started the day leading by one run and Inglis and Carey continued to control proceedings for most of the first hour.
Inglis (102) brought up the milestone with a stunning reverse sweep for four off Simon Harmer’s first ball of the day, but the spinner ended Inglis’ vital 185-run partnership with Carey on the last ball of the same over.
Inglis, who batted at No.5 and was recalled for his first Test since the Adelaide Oval last summer, prodded at a Harmer delivery outside off stump and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton.
It ended the 31-year-old West Australian’s 135-ball masterclass on the same exact same as debut ton in Sri Lanka last year – although that came from a record 90 deliveries.
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Inglis started the day 85 not out and moved into the 90s with a classy push to the mid on boundary that was aided by a poor effort in the field from Gerald Coetzee.
Carey, who hit seven boundaries, did most of the attacking as Inglis was content to pick up singles and bide his time on his way to a second Test ton in just his sixth outing in the baggy green.
He worked his way to 97 and then seized his momentum with a cracking reverse sweep off Harmer to raise the bat.
“You could just see how much it meant to him,” former Australian opener David Warner said on Kayo Sports at the drinks break.
“He’s been in and out, a few injuries over the last couple of years. He looks so comfortable. He would have liked to go on with it.”
Harmer struck again on the stroke of drinks as Carey tentatively poked at a full ball and nicked to Aiden Markram at first slip to end his 168-ball stay.
“That was lazy, nothing shot, just poking outside off stump,” Warner said.
Inglis & Renshaw fire for Aussies | 03:18
Australia lost a third wicket in quick succession, for just ten runs, when Kagiso Rabada wrapped a jumping Pat Cummins on the pads to dismiss him lbw for a duck.
Cummins reviewed, but could not be saved as umpire’s call for ball-tracking with the ball clipping the top of leg stump sending him on his way.
Mitchell Starc stuck around for 11 before he edged behind Coetzee to give the fast bowler his first wicket in his Test return.
Connolly and Lyon then saw out the remainder of the session as Australia tries to bat for as long as possible to build as big a lead as they can.
What happens next could decide the Test according to legendary seamer Vernon Philander, who was predicting the final two days could see the pitch deteriorate.
“This is the beauty of Test match cricket. We are so quick to expect results,” Philander said on SEN.
“But this is a really good batting surface still. I don’t think we have seen any batting demons. We have not seen any lateral movement, nor have we seen a lot of turn.
“You have to commend (the Australians) for the application they have shown. They have done an excellent job.
“But can they drive home the advantage? I do feel first innings runs will be important. I do get the feeling days four and five will be a batter’s nightmare.”
Australia will be desperate to take a dominant lead into the second innings in order to minimise their potential chase to close out the Test.
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TEAMS
Australia: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.