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Mitchell Starc claimed a six-wicket haul as Australia fought back from a difficult opening session to bowl South Africa out for 329 on Day 1 of the third Test at Newlands, Cape Town. After Aiden Markram and debutant Marques Ackerman powered the hosts to 140 without loss at lunch, Australia’s bowlers struck repeatedly to regain control. Ackerman top-scored with 95, while Markram made 78 and Marco Jansen added a valuable half-century late in the innings. Starc finished with 6/72 from 16.3 overs.
Cape Town, South Africa: Australia’s decision to bowl first looked questionable for much of the morning. On a surface offering little assistance to the bowlers, Markram and Ackerman attacked with confidence, putting the visitors under pressure and building a commanding opening partnership. By the end of the innings, however, Starc and the Australian attack had turned the contest around, dismissing South Africa for 329 in 82.3 overs.
Starc Leads Australia’s Fightback
Starc provided the breakthrough firepower Australia needed as the innings progressed. After South Africa’s openers dominated the first session, Australia gradually found ways to disrupt the hosts’ rhythm, with Starc emerging as the chief architect of the recovery.
Markram was dismissed for 78 when he miscued a short delivery from Josh Hazlewood and Starc took a well-judged catch in the deep. Starc then removed David Bedingham, who had made 50, before dismissing Wiaan Mulder for a duck. He continued to strike in the latter stages, claiming the wickets of Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada.
Starc’s figures of 6/72 made him the standout bowler in Australia’s response. His performance helped transform a morning in which South Africa had appeared firmly in control into an afternoon and evening dominated by regular breakthroughs.
Ackerman and Markram Dominate the Opening Session
South Africa’s innings began with a statement from their opening pair. Markram and Ackerman negotiated the early overs before taking advantage of loose deliveries, finding the boundary regularly and forcing Australia’s bowlers to search for answers.
Ackerman was particularly aggressive, bringing up his half-century from 62 balls. Markram followed with his fifty off 81 deliveries as the partnership continued to grow.
Australia also missed opportunities. Travis Head dropped Markram when he was on 39, allowing the opener to continue building his innings. At lunch, South Africa were 140 without loss, with Ackerman unbeaten on 82 and Markram on 56.
The partnership eventually reached 158 before Nathan Lyon broke through. Ackerman, playing only his second Test, was stumped by Alex Carey for 95 after facing 94 deliveries. His innings included 12 fours and two sixes, leaving him agonisingly short of a maiden Test century.
Australia Seize the Momentum
Lyon’s breakthrough opened the door for Australia. Hazlewood removed Markram for 78, with Starc taking the catch, before Starc struck again to dismiss Bedingham for 50.
The pressure continued to mount as South Africa lost captain Temba Bavuma for a duck, bowled by Lyon, and Matthew Breetzke for two. Starc then dismissed Mulder without scoring, leaving the hosts at 232 for six after they had been 203 for one.
The collapse exposed how quickly the match had changed. South Africa lost five wickets for 29 runs after Markram’s departure, undoing much of the advantage created by the opening partnership.
Jansen’s Half-Century Rescues South Africa
South Africa still had work to do to reach a competitive total, and Marco Jansen supplied the resistance they needed. Batting alongside Ryan Rickelton, Jansen counterattacked as Australia looked to wrap up the innings before the close.
The pair added a valuable partnership for the seventh wicket, helping South Africa recover from 232 for six. Rickelton contributed 42 before falling lbw to Starc, while Jansen played with greater aggression, striking boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving.
Jansen reached his half-century from 66 balls, including seven fours, and helped take South Africa past 300. Australia continued to take wickets towards the end, with Starc claiming further scalps as the innings came to a close. The hosts were eventually dismissed for 329.
The total represented a recovery from a position of considerable strength, but South Africa’s late resistance ensured Australia would not begin their innings with an overwhelmingly low target to chase down.
Context: A Series Decider at Newlands
The third Test began with the three-match series level at 1-1. Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs, before South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha.
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl first. His team made four changes, with Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon coming into the side. Steve Smith missed the decider with a neck injury, while Scott Boland and Beau Webster were left out.
South Africa made one change, bringing Gerald Coetzee into the team for the injured Anrich Nortje.
With the series on the line, the opening day offered a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in Test cricket. South Africa dominated the morning, but Starc and Australia’s bowlers ensured the hosts finished their innings well short of the position they had established.
Looking Ahead
Australia will begin their first innings on Day 2, aiming to build a substantial response to South Africa’s 329. The hosts, meanwhile, will look to their bowlers to make early inroads and prevent the visitors from taking control of the deciding Test.
Starc’s six-wicket haul has given Australia a strong finish to the opening day, but Jansen’s late runs have kept South Africa in the contest. With the series tied, the first innings at Newlands could prove crucial to deciding who takes the series.
Score at stumps, Day 1: South Africa 329 all out in 82.3 overs (Marques Ackerman 95, Aiden Markram 78, Marco Jansen 52; Mitchell Starc 6 for 72) at stumps on Day 1 against Australia.
Series: Australia and South Africa are level 1-1 in the three-match series.
Venue: Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Toss: Australia elected to bowl first
