Australia Takes Charge on Day Three of Test Championship

Australia Takes Control on Day Three

On Day 3 of the third ICC World Test Championship Test, Nathan Lyon made a pivotal impact by dismissing South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma. This dismissal helped Australia solidify their position as South Africa concluded the day at 140/4 in their second innings, maintaining a narrow 40-run lead. Matthew Breetzke (19*) and Ryan Rickelton (8*) remained not out, with six wickets still in hand. The Proteas will aim to set a formidable target for Australia on Day 4.

Inglis Confident After Key Breakthrough

Josh Inglis, who scored a century for Australia, expressed confidence in his team's position, highlighting Lyon's crucial wicket of Bavuma as a turning point in the match. "We managed the pace of the game effectively in that last session," Inglis remarked. He noted that while South Africa played well, they weren't able to pull away significantly. "Gaz (Lyon) bowled exceptionally well and was a constant threat. It’s rewarding to see hard work pay off at the end of a session," he added.

Spin Potential and First Innings Overview

Simon Harmer, the South African spinner, believes there is still much cricket left in this decisive match and that spin could play a crucial role in the final two days. "The wicket has changed dramatically from morning to evening," Harmer observed. He credited Mitchell Starc for creating footmarks that could benefit spin bowlers. Harmer's confidence suggests that spin will become increasingly influential as the match progresses.

Earlier in the day, South Africa showcased a strong bowling performance, limiting Australia to 429 runs after they resumed at 330 with six wickets remaining. Inglis completed a commendable century, while Alex Carey contributed significantly with 80 runs. For South Africa, Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen combined for seven wickets, with Harmer achieving impressive figures of 4/104 and Jansen maintaining his excellent form with 3/60.

South Africa's Second Innings Challenges

Facing a 100-run deficit from the first innings, South Africa struggled early in their second innings as Mitchell Starc dismissed Aiden Markram in the third over. Josh Hazlewood quickly followed suit, taking out David Bedingham, putting the hosts in a precarious position. However, Marques Ackerman, the top scorer from the first innings, partnered with captain Temba Bavuma to stabilize the innings.

The pair formed a vital 64-run partnership for the third wicket, with Ackerman notching his second half-century of the Test. Starc eventually broke this partnership by dismissing Ackerman, allowing Australia to regain momentum. Lyon then struck again in the penultimate over of the day, taking out Bavuma and leaving South Africa at 140/4 at stumps, with a slim lead of just 40 runs.