South Africa were 158 for 0 at Newlands, and Starc’s 6 for 72 bowled them out for 329 in the decider

Pat Cummins won the toss at Newlands on Tuesday and bowled, the first captain to do that at the ground since Faf du Plessis against Pakistan in 2019. For a session and a half it looked like the worst call of his series. Then a recalled Nathan Lyon pulled Australia back into the deciding third Test.

By stumps South Africa were all out for 329. They were 327 for 6 when Mitchell Starc took the second new ball, and the last four wickets fell for two runs. Starc finished with 6 for 72. Australia did not have to face an over before the close, and a decider that looked to be getting away from them at lunch is wide open again.

Ackerman’s 95 and Head’s drop

Cummins said he wanted to use some moisture in the pitch. The new ball found almost none of it. Marques Ackerman reached his maiden Test fifty off 62 balls, and South Africa were 140 for 0 at lunch after Travis Head put down Aiden Markram at cover, off Starc. It was about as simple a chance as a Test fielder gets.

The opening stand reached 158 before Ackerman, on 95 from 94 balls, charged Lyon looking for his hundred. Lyon tossed it past the bat and Alex Carey stumped him. Markram went for 78 off 141 balls, pulling Josh Hazlewood to Starc at long leg.

Three wickets for 13

Temba Bavuma lasted three balls before Lyon bowled him for a duck. Cooper Connolly then got his first Test wicket when Australia reviewed a not-out call against Matthew Breetzke and had him lbw for 2. From 203 for 2, South Africa were 216 for 4.

David Bedingham made 50 off 80 balls before Starc had him caught by Hazlewood at 232, and two balls later Wiaan Mulder was caught behind off Starc for nought. Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen then put on 95 for the seventh wicket, and Jansen reached 50.

Starc and the second new ball

Australia took the new ball at the start of the 81st over and Starc struck with his fourth delivery, trapping Rickelton lbw for 42. Two balls later he bowled Jansen for 52. Gerald Coetzee was bowled first ball, and Kagiso Rabada was given lbw second ball. South Africa reviewed that one and lost it.

No Smith, and no Boland either

Australia came in without Steve Smith, who failed to shake off the neck problem that bothered him in Gqeberha. Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Connolly and Lyon came in for Smith, Beau Webster, Nic Maddinson and Scott Boland. Leaving out Boland was the harsh one. He took 5 for 81 in South Africa’s only innings of the second Test, which Australia still lost by an innings and 31 runs.

Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, so the series is level at 1-1. Whoever wins at Newlands takes the series.

Stay with the Newlands decider