South Africa vs Australia: Day 1 Highlights of the Final Test in Cape Town

The first day of the final Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town saw the return of memories from the 2018 Sandpaper scandal. South Africa batted first, scoring 329 runs, with notable contributions from Ackerman and Markram. Australia’s Mitchell Starc shone with the ball, taking 6 wickets. A humorous moment occurred when a fan waved sandpaper at Nathan Lyon, reminding everyone of the past incident. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams are eager to secure crucial World Test Championship points.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 28, 2026, 17:37 IST

Day 1 Overview of the Cape Town Test

The echoes of the 2018 Sandpaper scandal resurfaced as the South African crowd at Newlands witnessed the first day of the final Test match in Cape Town on Tuesday, October 27.

In this match, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins opted to bowl first, leading to South Africa being dismissed for 329 runs in 82.3 overs. Key contributions came from Marques Ackerman (95), Aiden Markram (98), David Bedingham (50), and Marco Jansen (52). The opening partnership of 158 runs between Markram and Ackerman, along with a vital 95-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Jansen and Rickelton (42), propelled the Proteas past the 300-run mark.

Bowling Performance by Australia

Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler for Australia, achieving figures of 6 wickets for 73 runs at an economy rate of 4.40 over 16.3 overs. Nathan Lyon contributed with 2 wickets for 71 runs, while Cooper Connolly and Josh Hazlewood added one wicket each, effectively curtailing South Africa's innings before the end of the day.

Nathan Lyon's Encounter with Fans

As Australia continued to dismantle the South African batting lineup, a group of fans near the boundary took the opportunity to remind everyone of the notorious 2018 Sandpapergate scandal.

A viral video showed Nathan Lyon fielding near the boundary when a South African fan waved a piece of sandpaper at him, humorously asking for an autograph. Lyon responded with a smile and laughter, turning the moment into a light-hearted exchange that amused the crowd, who were reminded of the infamous ball-tampering incident that marred Australian cricket during the 2018 Test in Cape Town.

The Context of the Series

Both teams are vying for victory in this three-match series, currently tied at 1-1. The stakes are high as they aim to secure vital World Test Championship points.

Australia won the first Test by a significant margin of 214 runs, while South Africa bounced back in the second Test with an innings and 31-run victory, enhancing their chances of qualifying for the WTC final. The two teams, who faced each other in the WTC 2025 Final, are eager to assert their dominance and move closer to another final appearance.

As Day 2 commenced, Australia began their first innings with openers Travis Head (41) and Matt Renshaw looking to establish a strong start under clear skies at Newlands. By lunch, the visitors had reached 90 runs for the loss of 2 wickets, with Renshaw and Cameron Green at the crease on 27 and 17 runs, respectively, trailing by 239 runs.