Proteas face long day at Newlands as Australia lead with six wickets in hand

South Africa’s bowlers must dig in on day three of the series-deciding third Test at Newlands in Cape Town, where Australia lead by a run with only four wickets down.

Australia resume on 330 for four in reply to South Africa’s 329, with Josh Inglis unbeaten on 85 and Alex Carey on 51.

The pair have added 145 for the fifth wicket and steadied the innings after Marco Jansen removed Matt Renshaw for 74 and Cameron Green for 65, ending a 126-run third-wicket stand.

Jansen, who took his 100th Test wicket in the process, finished day two with two for 37, and Simon Harmer took two for 84. South Africa’s attack is feeling the strain, however. Kagiso Rabada went wicketless for 81 from 18 overs, while battling stomach cramps, and Jansen is nursing back stiffness.

Rabada would need to fire early on day three if the hosts were to avoid being left to stare down the barrel.

South Africa were bowled out on the first day thanks to Mitchell Starc, whose six for 72 undid a first innings built on Marques Ackerman’s 95, Aiden Markram’s 78 and a Jansen half-century.

The series is level at 1-1, with the Test scheduled to finish on Saturday.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo match report and live scorecard, 28 October; cricket.com.au, 26 October.