Josh Inglis is batting with a broken finger in a splint, and his unbeaten 85 has Australia ahead in the Newlands decider
Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen had Australia 185 for 4 in Cape Town, and South Africa did not take another wicket on day two of the series decider.
Oct 29, 2026
Josh Inglis broke his right index finger in the first ODI in Durban last month, and he is batting at Newlands with it in a splint. It has not held him back. Inglis was 85 not out off 111 balls at stumps on day two of the deciding third Test, Alex Carey was 51 not out, and their unbroken stand of 145 had taken Australia to 330 for 4, one run ahead of South Africa’s 329.
The series is level at 1-1. With three days left in Cape Town, Australia have the better of it.
Harmer’s double strike
South Africa had the start they wanted. Simon Harmer, picked again ahead of Keshav Maharaj, had Travis Head chopping on for 41 and then got Marnus Labuschagne caught at slip for a duck in the same over. Australia were 58 for 2, and they were without Steve Smith, who was ruled out of the Test with a neck injury. Scans have since found a cervical facet joint problem, and he is expected back for the first Test against New Zealand in Perth on 9 December.
Matthew Renshaw, opening again, and Cameron Green then put on 126 for the third wicket. Green had missed the first two Tests with an abdominal injury, and he hit Kagiso Rabada for two sixes off successive balls on his way to 65 off 110 balls. Renshaw made 74 off 139.
Marco Jansen, who went to the top of the ICC Test bowling and all-rounder rankings on Wednesday, removed both of them in quick succession, Green caught by Harmer at slip. At 185 for 4, South Africa were back in it.
Inglis and Carey take the afternoon away
That was the last wicket of the day. Inglis missed the first two Tests with that finger, and he played as if he had something to make up for, with nine fours and two sixes. Carey was the anchor at the other end, and the second new ball brought South Africa nothing.
South Africa’s attack was not at full strength by the end. Rabada left the field more than once with stomach cramps and went wicketless in 18 overs for 81. “He’s got some stomach cramps,” bowling coach Piet Botha said, adding that Rabada “wasn’t at his best today”. Jansen needed a back rub at tea for stiffness, which Cricket South Africa said was nothing serious. He finished with 2 for 37.
Where the decider stands
Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa levelled the series by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha. On Tuesday, Mitchell Starc’s 6 for 72 had South Africa all out for 329 after they had been 203 for 1.
Day three starts at 2pm IST. Inglis is 15 short of his second Test hundred, and Australia have six wickets in hand. If they can turn a one-run lead into 150 or more, South Africa will be batting to save the series on a pitch that gave their bowlers very little on day two.