Late Lyon wicket puts Australia in control of deciding Test

A proper session of Test cricket that one.

The scoreline reads 2-87 off 34 overs. South Africa fought so hard, and they would’ve loved to have gone to stumps just three down.

Temba Bavuma was right in the thick of that fight, but lost his head in uncharacteristic fashion five minutes out from stumps.

Unfortunately for South Africa, Bavuma’s wicket continued a theme. Three of the four wickets to fall were due to incredibly poor shots.

That fourth wicket has tipped the scales well and truly in Australia’s favour heading into day four.

Still plenty of batting left in the sheds for the Proteas including the pair at the crease.

The conditions have been much more batter-friendly in the morning session, and South Africa will look to motor along under the morning sun tomorrow.

Can they somehow eke out around 150 more runs for these last six wickets to give their bowlers something to defend on day five?

The Test is still not over, but it feels like it’s Australia’s to lose now.

Starc starting around the wicket to Breetzke. This is the last over of the day.

Breetzke knocks the first one into the gap on the off side to pick up a single.

Starc comes back over the wicket to Rickelton.

He starts with a full delivery that Rickelton ducks under easily.

FOUR! Starc aims one in at middle and leg, but Rickelton flicks it away nicely off the pads for a boundary.

Starc drags his length back outside off stump and Rickelton shoulders arms. Two balls remaining for the day.

Starc angles one in towards off stump and Rickelton plays a solid forward defence. One more to go.

Starc with another good length delivery and Rickelton defends it down the pitch and that is stumps.

Just an unspeakably stupid shot selection from the skipper and now Ryan Rickelton has to come out to face the music.

Lyon bowling to a left-hander in these conditions is exactly what he wants.

Lyon comes around the wicket. Men all around the bat now.

FOUR! EDGED! Lyon spins it away and catches the edge but Rickelton gets it through the two catchers and the ball squirts away to the boundary. Wow!

OH NO TEMBA BAVUMA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

After batting so well all session, Bavuma goes for a big booming drive, and the ball lands in the rough and spins and takes out leg stump.

That is a HUGE wicket on the stroke of stumps. South Africa gifts another wicket to Australia.

Temba Bavuma 35 (115) b Lyon, FOW: 4-131 

Lyon coming around the wicket now. He’s got a leg slip in as well as another catcher on the leg side.

Looking for the bat-pad dismissal here.

Bavuma negotiates the first two safely and Lyon comes back over the wicket.

He’s on an off-stump line and Bavuma defends solidly.

Lyon drops one shorter and Bavuma rocks back and cuts it away and picks up two runs. Good running.

Starc is back, the danger man.

Starts over the wicket to Breetzke and the first one off stump is well-defended by the right-hander. No real movement on offer.

He comes around the wicket next up.

Starc hangs one full and wide outside off, but Breetzke leaves it alone.

He gets a little closer this time and Breetzke drives down to the sweeper on the off side to pick up a single.

Starc drops one in a little shorter and Bavuma defends down the pitch.

A fuller one to finish the over and Bavuma drives into the deep on the off side and picks up a single.

Starc again with a bit of a limp as he walks back to his fielding position.

Just one over for Matt Renshaw, Nathan Lyon is back.

The first one is on the off-stump line and is defended by Bavuma.

The next one is wider outside off and Bavuma leans forward and defends.

Bavuma plays the next one with the spin, whips it to the leg side, but it’s straight to a fielder.

Lyon goes wider and throws the next one up, draws an aggressive stroke from Bavuma, but again he picks out the fielder.

The next delivery is an identical result.

Shorter to end the over and Bavuma steps back and defends on the back foot.

Hazlewood back on that off-stump line and Breetzke defends him down the pitch. He certainly looks more comfortable against the quicks as opposed to the spinners.

Drops the next one in short and Breetzke ducks under it. He’s got two men out on the hook, but there’s no Bedinghamitis this time.

Back on that off-stump line next up and Breetzke meets with a solid forward defence.

FOUR! A bit of width offered up from Hazlewood and Breetzke punches him through the covers, lovely timing.

Hazlewood gets a little more straighter and Breetzke knocks it down to the man at mid-off.

Another straight delivery to end the over and Breetzke on drives it but straight to the fielder in close.

Renshaw replaces Lyon in the attack and is worked for a single by Bavuma to start things off.

He flights one in outside off and Breetzke shows patience and defends.

Another one looped up, this was straighter, and Breetzke defends on the back foot.

Again, some lovely flight. Breetzke again defends on the crease.

Breetzke gets the next one to squirt past Marnus at slips, and a good dive from Cummins saves three runs.

BIG TURN! Bavuma looks to rock back and cut Renshaw, but the ball spins back into him and cramps him up.

Hazlewood comes striding in again. Last over looked a little tired. It’s been a long day for these guys.

CLOSE! Breetzke goes for a big drive on a full delivery and inside edges it onto his pads! Hazlewood getting it to tail in late.

Another one outside off and tailing in, Breetzke drives well, but hits the fielder in the covers.

Hazlewood gets a little straighter and Breetzke drives down the pitch. It’s misfielded by Hazlewood and they pick up a quick single.

A good delivery outside off and Bavuma defends into the off-side once again.

Hazlewood gets a little straighter and Bavuma whips him off the pads for a single to move to 31.

Hazlewood finishes with a short one, but it’s down the leg side and Breetzke ducks under it.

Lyon takes aim at Breetzke. The first one spins in from outside off and Breetzke knocks it into the leg side, opts against the single.

Knocks the next one into the covers and again some good fielding denies a single.

The seam has come up on the ball and the umpire is hacking away at it with a pair of scissors.

Lyon loops one up outside off and Breetzke knocks it into the covers again. Shows good patience.

LBW APPEAL! Breetzke leans forward and bat-pads one away outside off stump, but no real interest outside of Marnus.

Breetzke goes for another cover drive to one outside off. Dangerous stuff with that rough out there.

A good shot to end the over, Breetzke cover drives into the gap and picks up a single.

Hazlewood is back. He starts over the wicket to Breetzke, who defends solidly into the off side.

Hazlewood gets straighter next up and Breetzke defends down the pitch.

A good delivery on the off stump line and Breezke defends on the back foot. He’s dogged today, currently 9 off 32 deliveries.

Follows up with a short delivery, but Breetzke ducks underneath it comfortably.

Oooh Breetzke’s missed out there! Hazlewood bowls a big full toss, but Breetzke can’t time it past the man at mid-on.

Strays onto the pads to end the over and Breetzke finishes with a single to fine leg.

Lyon overpitches to start the over and Bavuma drives him down to mid-on and picks up a quick single.

Now then, what will Breetzke do here?

Breetzke hangs back and defends a ball outside off stump.

Lyon overpitches again and Breetzke bunts him into the off side and picks up a single in the gap.

Bavuma again works Lyon down to mid on for a single. This is good, you’ve got to rotate the strike against Lyon.

Breetzke with a more expansive cover drive, picks up another single to the man in the deep.

A good delivery to end the over, and Bavuma defends it back down the pitch. Good over for South Africa that.

Cummins outside off, gets Bavuma shouldering arms. That one kept a tad low. Some variable bounce coming through now on this wicket.

He gets a little closer to Bavuma’s off-stump that time and Bavuma defends.

A good short delivery on the off-stump line from Cummins and Bavuma ducks underneath it.

CHANCE! Cummins gets a bouncer right and catches Bavuma’s glove and the ball juuust evades the fielder in close on the leg side and they pick up a single. That was close!

Cummins back on a length to Breetzke on middle stump, and it’s defended down the pitch.

Cummins goes a little fuller to end the over and Breetzke drives it back down the pitch. This is gripping Test cricket right now, you can feel every delivery is a real war of attrition.

Lyon has Bavuma in his sights now after a very promising previous over.

BIG LBW APPEAL! Lyon gets one to rip from well outside off and Bavuma shoulders arms, but it’s given not out. I don’t think that was doing enough.

Bavuma rocks back and knocks the next one into the off side. Lyon will want to be fuller than that.

That’s better. Lyon goes fuller and gets Bavuma reaching and the ball trickles away into the leg side.

Lyon gets another one to spit up from outside off and Bavuma negotiates it, somehow.

Lyon drops one shorter and it kicks up, but Bavuma rides it and cuts it away for a single. Every ball seems fraught with danger right now.

Another one outside off and Breetzke bat-pads it away. Lyon again asks the question from the umpire with regards to an LBW, but is waved away.

The battle between the two skippers continues. Cummins vs Bavuma.

He pitches on that off stump line again and Bavuma is back and defending. He’s now 21 off 81.

Yorker length from Cummins next up, and Bavuma digs it out safely.

FOUR! That’ll feel good for Bavuma! Cummins drops short and Bavuma rocks back and pulls him away to the fence. That’s a poor delivery, to be honest.

Terrific response from Cummins. Goes short again, this one gets much higher and gets Bavuma in a proper tangle.

Cummins pitches one on off stump and Bavuma clips him into the leg side for a single.

Another good delivery on the off stump line from Cummins and Breetzke defends down the pitch to end the over.

Lyon pitches the first one outside off and Breetzke reaches forward and bat pads it down.

The next one is in a similar area and Breetzke defends into the off side.

Lyon puts another one in a similar area and Breetzke defends on the back foot. He is getting prodigious spin here.

BIG TURN! Another one spins out of the rough and Breetzke gets in a pickle as the ball hits his groin area.

Five straight balls in the same area and Breetzke again defends uncomfortably.

Breetzke defends back to the final delivery and somehow survives. It’s a maiden.

Just a short spell for Starc, Cummins brings himself back on.

He’s over the wicket and immediately into the corridor and Breetzke defends on the back foot.

Another good delivery from Cummins and this time Breetzke defends on the front foot.

FOUR! Shot! Cummins overpitches and Breetzke thumps him down the ground with a beautiful off drive. That’ll feel good!

Cummins fires one at middle and leg and Breetzke walks across and clips him to fine leg, dangerous stuff that. Miss it and you’re gone!

Cummins right on a six pence once again, on that off-stump line, and Bavuma defends on the back foot.

EDGED! Cummins catches the edge of Bavuma’s bat but it doesn’t carry to first slip. The Proteas skipper living dangerously! There’s been a few of those throughout this Test actually!

Nathan Lyon is back with Bavuma in his sights.

Starts over the wicket and pitches one on off, which Bavuma softly knocks into the leg side.

The next one is shorter and wider and Bavuma knocks it into the off side for a single and South Africa has wiped out the deficit. 

Lyon gets one to rip from outside off and Breetzke hangs back and leg glances it for a single. Oohs and aahs from the fielders around the bat.

A little quicker from Lyon and Bavuma again knocks it into the leg side.

BAT PAD CHANCE! Lyon gets one to rip from outside off and Bavuma is reaching and that almost pops up for a catch.

SHARP TURN! Lyon finishes with a huge spinner and Bavuma shapes to cut it but is cramped up by the turn.

Righto, a big final hour of play coming here. South Africa would love to get through to stumps just three down.

That Ackerman wicket was a huge one for the Aussies, especially given he was the aggressor.

Breetzke is so prolific in ODI cricket, can he translate that to the Test arena?

Starc coming around the wicket to Bavuma, the first one is back of a length and Temba defends. He’s 19 off 72 balls now, it’s been a proper vigil from the skipper this.

Shorter again from Starc and Bavuma knocks it away past point for a single to bring Breetzke on strike.

Starc comes back over the wicket to the new batter.

The first one is a classic full and wide tempter, but Breetzke leaves it alone.

Starc digs the next one in short, but it’s too high and Breetzke is able to duck under it easily.

EDGED! Back on a length and catches the edge of Breetzke’s bat, but it goes along the ground to gully.

Finishes the over with another well-directed bouncer at 142.8 kph and Breetzke ducks under it.

Bavuma is on strike and he wants a single to mid on but there’s nothing there.

He takes a single now to square leg. Marnus’s boorish commentary of every ball continues in the background.

Breetzke was the man who leaped like a gazelle over the pitch looking at Marnus as he was dismissed in the first innings, and Marnus hasn’t forgotten.

He takes a single to get off the mark.

Bavuma takes a single too.

So much chat out there, almost all of it from Marnus Labuschagne.

He needs to chill out a bit, given the state of his career.

Thankfully, he has time for that now, as drinks come on.

The calm headed Chris de Silva will take you through to the close.

Breetzke is the new man in.

And he defends four balls to see out a wicket maiden.

A brute of a ball from Mitch Starc!

The ball has followed him, smacked him in the helmet and flown to first slip.

The finger went up and as Ackerman staggers about a bit he eventually goes to talk to his skipper.

Oh, did Ackerman want to review?

He looked like he just about got it in in time, but the umpires said he didn’t! The replay looked like he did review it just in time?!

That’s tight. The timer was just down to 0 was it? Hmmm.

Marnus Labuschagne tells him to get off and that the timer had run out. Not his place to do that, to be honest…

Travis Head then talks to Ackerman and Marnus has a go at Head for doing so! Sorry, but that’s pathetic from Marnus.

Head says, “I’m asking if he’s OK.”

We’ll have a look at the replay.

And it hit the edge before crashing into the helmet.

So South Africa were saved a review, but Marnus Labuschagne has lost a bit of respect from me there. You have to look after the batter and that was a brutal bouncer.

Ackerman 62 (79) c Green b Starc. FOW 3-95

Mitch Starc has been turned around, hoping a change of ends will give him some joy.

Ackerman defends.

Wasn’t necessarily expecting the junk overs to be bowled this early…

Renshaw starts nicely, Ackerman gets a single to bring Bavuma on strike.

That doesn’t last long though, Bavuma rocking back and slapping the ball to point for a single. Just a tad too short from Renshaw.

Too full this time and Renshaw is dabbed around the corner, Ackerman sweeping and reaching to clip the ball away on the full.

Bavuma can’t get a single past mid off.

Another full ball, this time Bavuma waits for it to be fended away on the half volley, just a push for a single to point.

Ackerman clips away for a single – five of them from the other.

Bavuma defends. Marnus screams yobbishly because his young teammate pitched it nicely.

Solid defence from Bavuma, watchful defence.

There’s a single slip in place, the aforementioned Marnus Labuschagne.

Bavuma cuts a short one but can’t capitalise on what was a pretty ordinary ball.

Nice shape from Connolly, good flight and a bit of turn too from the left arm orthodox.

Off the inside edge and away for no run to square leg.

That’s not a bad first over, a maiden to start.

Whatever the issue was with Mitch Starc, it’s not kept him away from the action for long.

Ackerman drives straight enough that Starc can field it in his follow though.

Ackerman might have a bit more time between deliveries to calm his mind a bit against Starc, he was getting so busy and over-egged facing a Lyon ball every few seconds that he seemed in danger of getting out almost every ball. This slows things up, forces him to stop. It might be better for him.

Lovely drive from Ackerman to cover point, but Inglis leaps up and claims the ball one handed. Not bad for a wicketkeeper masquerading as an infielder.

FOUR! Bouncer, Ackerman takes him on and top edges the ball down to fine leg for a one-bounce four.

Ackerman cuts at one too close to his body and gets away with it – although there is no run.

Ackerman drives again, into the covers for a couple more. It’s a big swing of the bat, he really leans into it but can’t time it properly and Cummins makes the sliding stop out in the deep.

Bavuma clips away but there’s no run there.

Bouncer, Bavuma leans his head out of the way.

Bit of extra bounce there as Bavuma whips his bottom hand off the bat, the ball falling nicely and safely into the off side.

Bavuma leaves outside off, Hazlewood slows to a stop in front of the South African skipper and just has a stare at him for a moment.

Another solid defensive stroke, the bottom hand again coming off the bat, this time after the ball has made contact with the blade.

Another leave to end a superb maiden from Josh Hazlewood.

CLOSE! Turn, pace, Bavuma covers up, the ball just squeezes past and almost rolls back onto the stumps.

Bavuma opens the shoulders as Lyon drops short and gets a single with an ugly heave out to midwicket.

Ackerman advances, and drives the ball on the bounce to the catching cover.

Reverse sweep, Marnus Labuschagne makes a great stop at slip to save the run.

Ackerman clips the ball past bat pad delicately and gets a single – not a bad thing for him to be off strike for a bit, he was getting a bit frantic, looked like he was starting to roll down hill a bit and would let everything get away from him.

Bavuma pushes away to backward square leg and calls for two, they’ll only run one though.

And Bavuma continues on his merry way, absorbing the pressure with a solid defensive stroke.

Bavuma can’t get the next one away, just rushing him with a straighter one, Hazlewood. It’s hit him high on the front thigh, just nipping back from the wide delivery point on the crease.

Hazlewood keeps it tighter there with his release point and bowls outside off, Bavuma leaves it.

BIG SHOUT! But Hazlewood stifles his appeal because it’s a bit too high to be of real interest. Good bowling. Bavuma is getting a bit bogged down here.

Now he opens his shoulders and gets a single out to point.

That’s the 50 partnership, from 92 balls

Ackerman defends the last.

FOUR! Ackerman advances and punches the ball past mid off and away to the extra cover boundary. Great aggression, but high danger from Ackerman – there were fielders in that area.

Lyon might just keep enticing him to drive those.

Ackerman defends.

Then he looks to drive a wide one but can’t get contact with it. Careful.

A single for Ackerman to mid on.

Fifty for Marques Ackerman! 

Lovely stuff, just 64 balls it’s taken him. He’s looking to attack and he’s countered nicely after those early wickets.

Ackerman leans back and punches another one out to the cover boundary, taking a couple of runs to add to the tally.

Leg slip, slip and gully.

Ackerman punches the ball away to deep backward point for a single.

Two slips and a gully for Bavuma, who clips off his hip for a single.

It’s so important to use this left-right combination just to mess with the lines of the batters – South Africa haven’t rotated the strike a lot since tea but they are going to give it a go over the next couple of hours you’d think.

FOUR! Or not. A lovely shot, short, Ackerman pulls hard and sends the ball to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Ackerman gets off strike again, he’s been so positive, a little push to point getting him going.

Bavuma, more circumspect, defends.

EDGED! Oh lovely soft hands – Bavuma should do a washing up commercial. Are those still a thing? Anyway, soft hands from the skipper and the ball bounces through to second slip.

And the singing from the crowd goes up a bit.

Lyon angles the ball from around the wicket to Ackerman, who defends.

He then is subject to half an appeal from the man presumably in the side for his chat given he has offered precious little else this tour. Needless to say, Marnus’s shouts were unheeded by the umpire and anyone else.

He gets off strike with a single to square leg.

Bavuma extravagantly sweeps and gets a single to square leg.

And Ackerman takes a single, pushing the ball to point.

Lots of excitement in the crowd, those afternoon lagers and the relentless sun of the day starting to have their effect on some of the patrons.

I got in trouble with a couple of my colleagues for saying that Cummins is the bowler that I would drop out of the big four.

When he is the captain though, it does make the process even harder, because essentially it’s a spot that won’t get opened up by rotation.

I think it’s unfair to say its a closed shop though. Lyon was rotated out at Gqeberha. And they have rather earned their spots…

Leg slip, slip and gully for Ackerman, who wastes no time in  getting off strike with a single to point.

Bavuma defends solidly into the off side.

Captain Pat bowls another fuller ball, straight and Bavuma fends it to midwicket.

Bavuma gently pulls the ball incredibly fine, and it will be a couple of runs there. Might have come off his glove actually, given the pace being taken off the ball on its way towards the rope.

Leg slip comes in for Bavuma, who defends.

Ackerman sweeps and will get a single. Looks to score quickly, Ackerman.

Marnus Labuschagne yelps for an LBW that not a single other person on the planet thought might have been even remotely close as Bavuma sweeps, the ball hitting him metres outside the line. Perhaps if he’s judging the line that badly he should be dropped to grade cricket out at Redlands, let alone play for Queensland.

BEATEN! Bavuma defends a couple and then, facing the last ball of the over, steps back and delivers a fierce swish of the bat, but it misses the ball which is taken by Carey.

I don’t think he’s too old.

I just think it hasn’t quite happened for him in the last two Tests.

There’s time for him to make a mark here.

Bavuma defends outside off and lets out a yelp of “no” when he plays it.

A pleasing buzz around the ground from the healthy crowd.

BIG APPEAL! That’s nipped back a bit and rapped Bavuma on the pads. It’s always a chance of being low enough if it hits Bavuma’s pads.

AND AUSTRALIA ARE GOING TO REVIEW!

It is a touch high… There’s no bat involved, but it’s hit him on the thigh pad. We await ball tracking.

And it’s missing by a milimetre or two. Good decision. It is height that saves Bavuma. A fraction lower and it would have hit middle.

Very close.

Bavuma pushes to cover and squeals “no” to stop the run.

Bavuma fends a shorter ball that rises up and he gets it away to fine leg.

That’s 4,000 Test runs for Temba Bavuma and the Cape Town crowd sings his name in appreciation.

Ackerman fends away to fine leg for a single too.

And Bavuma ends the over with a defensive stroke.

Bavuma pushes back to Lyon with a flourish of his bat outside off stump.

Lyon has seen the rough and he wants to exploit it.

That turns a bit on its way in and Bavuma turns the ball to midwicket.

Watching spin bowling can be the most mesmerising of pastimes.

Dust puffs up there as Bavuma defends another that grips and bites a little bit.

Oh and that one kept low! That’s a great line he’s bowling, just four or five stump-widths outside of the off stump.

Bavuma defends another one.

And then he pushes away for a single off the final ball of the over to mid on.

Leg gully, first slip, and a gully.

EDGED! Off the inside half of the bat as well there, Ackerman tried to drive but missed out.

Off the outside half of the bat this time from Ackerman and he gets a single down to backward point.

Cummins bowls on the off stump, and Bavuma defends with a straight bat.

Outside off, left alone by Bavuma, who just needs a bit of time to settle here after the tea break. Hopefully his belly isn’t as jumpy as his fast bowlers have been over the last couple of days.

Bavuma pushes into the cover point region for a single.

Ackerman defends the last.

There are a couple of clouds just drifting off the mountains further down the coast. Australia would love them to appear over the Table and roll in here, but it doesn’t look likely at the moment.

Slip and short leg for Lyon’s bowling, Temba Bavuma is the batter at the strikers end of the wicket, and he defends before going on a little wander in a circle.

He levers the ball right into the man at short leg, who absorbs the blow and saves a run.

BIG TURN! That’s a good one from Lyon. Outside off, huge puff of dust and it turns a long way towards leg.

BEATEN! And that one did not turn at all, Bavuma playing across the line a bit there and was lucky he didn’t edge it or get cleaned up by it.

Bavuma defends into the leg side.

And then he gets forward and defends into the off.

Maiden to start, and an encouraging over for Australia.

I think you’ll have more luck with Simon, Josh!

I actually went wicketless all of yesterday, although I’ve seen a few more so far today.

Unfortunately, Josh, this series is a microcosm of Aiden Markram’s career.

There are few openers around the world that are as easy on the eye as he is, but unfortunately he lacks the application to become truly, truly world class.

That’s why his Test average is in the mid-30s rather than being in the mid-40s where it probably should be.

You know what? I agree with you, Mike.

Enough of this ‘umpire’s call’ baloney.

South Africa goes into the break trailing by 47 runs with eight wickets in hand.

There was a little bit on offer for the Australian quicks with the new ball, but South Africa will be disappointed with the dismissals of both Aiden Markram and David Bedingham.

They’ll need much more application from the other batters if they’re to set a competitive total for the Aussies.

This partnership will be the major key, you’d think. Ackerman is the form man from the first innings, and has looked solid, and we know how hard Bavuma is to dislodge once he gets set.

South Africa bats deep, right down to Simon Harmer at No.9 and they’ll need each of their batters to pull their weight.

Australia in the driver’s seat heading into the break and they’ll know a strong final session could set them up for a win tomorrow.

Still a bit of work to do though for the tourists.

Cummins over the wicket to Bavuma, who again punches one into the off-side and calls Ackerman through for a single.

He comes around to Ackerman.

The first one is pitched outside off and Ackerman punches it into the off side, but straight to the fielder.

A well-directed short ball next up from Cummins, but Ackerman decisively ducks under it.

RUN OUT CHANCE! Ackerman knocks it into the off side and sets off for a run, but is sent back by Bavuma! Connolly picks it up and has a shy at the stumps and Ackerman had given up, but the throw is wide.

Another short delivery, this one goes through a little lower and surprises Ackerman a bit, but he’s able to dodge it once again.

Cummins finishes up with a full one and Ackerman drives to mid-off and that’s tea. My goodness, that would’ve been a devastating way to end the session for the Proteas but they dodge a bullet.

We get our first look at Lyon. He’s over the wicket to Bavuma.

The first one is on off stump and doesn’t spin much and Bavuma defends into the leg side.

The second one is on a similar line but spins a little more and Temba knocks it into the on side again.

Lyon gets wider outside off next and Bavuma leans forward and defends.

The next one is whizzed in a little quicker and Bavuma defends once again, in less convincing fashion.

Bavuma rocks back and punches the next one into the off side and picks up a single.

Lyon comes around the wicket to Ackerman.

BIG LBW APPEAL! Lyon beats Ackerman all ends up with one that seems to go on with the arm, but the umpire is unmoved.

Cummins decides to send it upstairs.

It looks like it’s beaten the bat and has hit Ackerman in the back leg.

Ball tracking shows that it’s hit Ackerman outside the line, so the review is unsuccessful. Good decision from Richard Illingworth.

Cummins starts over the wicket to Ackerman and pitches one on middle and length and is defended into the off side.

FOUR! EDGED! Cummins drops it a little shorter and Ackerman flashes at it and sends the ball flying over the slips cordon.

Cummins goes a back of a length outside off, but Ackerman isn’t tempted this time, wisely leaves it alone.

Another short one and Ackerman again pulls well in front of square and picks up two to the man in the deep. In good control of that shot so far today.

Cummins comes around the wicket to change up the angle.

BEATEN! Better area from Cummins, in that corridor of uncertainty and beats Ackerman’s defensive prod all ends up.

A similar delivery but this time Ackerman is able to work it to the leg side and he picks up another pair of runs, good running that time.

Hazlewood continues around the wicket to Ackerman, who chops the first one into the off side for a dot. Tidy stuff.

A bit of a teaser from Hazlewood, wider outside off, but Ackerman shoulders arms.

Ackerman tries to drive the next one through the covers, but mistimes it to the man at stationed at point.

FOUR! Hazlewood digs it in short and Ackerman pulls well. Neser, the sub fielder, looks like he’s got it covered on the boundary, but then makes an absolute meal of things.

Fuller from Hazlewood, honing in on leg stump and Ackerman on drives but can’t beat mid-on.

Another short one from Hazlewood, this time from over the wicket, and Ackerman pulls it in front of square for a single to end the over.

Australia’s captain brings himself into the attack looking to end an uncharacteristic wicket drought. Bavuma on strike to start the over.

The first ball is wide outside off stump and Bavuma shoulders arms.

Cummins gets a little closer to off stump with the next one and has Bavuma defending into the off side.

A little shorter from Cummins and Bavuma punches it off the back foot and picks up a single.

Cummins stays over the wicket to Ackerman, who punches one pitched on middle stump on a good length to mid off.

A short one from Cummins over leg stump, but Ackerman is able to duck under it easily.

Ackerman guides the next one past backward point and picks up another single to move into the 20s.

The South African captain Temba Bavuma arrives at the crease with a mountain of work to do.

Two poor shots have seen two dismissals so far. Nowhere near the level of application required out there from the Proteas.

CLOSE! My goodness! Bavuma drops it into the off-side and calls Ackerman through for a quick single and Ackerman is almost run out! Josh Inglis with the good pick-up and shy at the stumps, but he misses.

Hazlewood comes around the wicket to Ackerman and bounces him first up, and Ackerman ducks under it easily.

FOUR! Great shot from Ackerman! He walks down the track at Hazlewood ever so slightly and guides it past backward point for a pressure release boundary.

This is a tremendously poor shot from David Bedingham!

Hazlewood digs it in short and Bedingham tries to take it on despite there being two men out in the deep.

Nathan Lyon takes the easy catch and South Africa are in trouble here.

David Bedingham 11 (16) c Lyon b Hazlewood, FOW: 2-31

BEATEN! Terrific delivery from Hazlewood. It’s just outside off stump and seams away after pitching, beating Bedingham’s forward defence.

A similar delivery, but this time Bedingham meets it with the full face of the bat, defending into the covers.

FOUR! Shot! Starc too full that time, that’s in the slot and Bedingham leans into a wonderful cover drive and beats the sweeper in the deep as well, that’s how well he’s timed that.

BEATEN! Great response from Starc as he drags his length back a tad and seams one across Bedingham, beating his defensive prod all ends up.

Another one in the slot from Starc which Bedingham absolutely smokes, but he’s hit it straight to the man at cover. Good shot for no runs.

OUCH! A brute of a bouncer from Starc at 143.4 kph! It gets really big on Bedingham and thuds into his chest. He’s done really well to get his gloves out of the way of that one.

This one is short, but not as short as the previous one, and Bedingham rocks back and defends.

Another short one on the leg side and Bedingham negotiates it well, guiding it down to fine leg for a single to end the over.

Starc coming off the ground after that over and he’s being replaced by Michael Neser.

Hazlewood stays over the wicket to Ackerman and pitches one on middle on a back of a length and dots up the left-hander.

CLOSE! Ackerman misses an attempted pull shot and the ball almost dribbles onto his stumps after hitting his thigh pad. A bit of uneven pace that time.

Another one on a back of a length, but this time it’s leg-sided and Ackerman works it away for a single onto the leg side.

Hazlewood hits a lovely length just outside Bedingham’s off stump and Bedingham drops it into the off side and calls Ackerman through for a quick single. Good running.

Hazlewood comes around the wicket and angles one into Ackerman’s pads and he works it away through the leg side for a single.

Floated up and Bedingham goes for a big drive through the covers and wants two initially but Ackerman sends him back so they’ve got to settle for a single. A little bit of a mix-up between the two, but Bedingham makes it back safely at hte non-striker’s end.

Starts with a wide yorker which Bedingham squeezes out into the covers.

Let’s see how freely Starc moves with that little calf niggle we saw at the end of the last over.

Strays into the hips and Bedingham works it away for an easy single on the leg side.

Full and straight and Ackerman meets it with a lovely on drive but can’t quite beat the man at mid-on.

FOUR BYES! Starc digs it in and this one goes flying way over Ackerman’s head and Carey’s got no chance. 141.9 kph from the left-armer.

Straight and back of a length from Starc at 146 kph and Ackerman is defending on the back foot.

Another well-directed short one from Starc, but Ackerman deals with it well, drops it into the leg side and picks up a quick single to end the over.

Bedingham drives away for a single. Starc is still limping around back there, feeling at his calf.

BEATEN! Oh what a ball. On the rise outside off, a little bit of nip and that takes it away from the fending blade.

Ackerman drives to cover and takes a single. Busy batter, is Ackerman. Looks hard to bat out there all of a sudden.

Bedingham defends into the cover point region and will take a very comfortable single.

Leg gully comes in and Hazlewood delivers a bouncer, Ackerman ducks under it.

Solid defence ends the over.

Now, will Mitch Starc take the ball for a third over? Chris de Silva will tell you all about it.

David Bedingham has one ball to face.

He plays it to point and takes a single to get off the mark.

Mitch Starc walks down to his fielding position. And he is limping. And grimacing… Uh oh…

A soft dismissal there for Aidan Markram.

He has driven the ball on the up, hitting it straight to Travis Head at mid off, who didn’t have to move!

Sloppy dismissal for the opener.

And all of a sudden Australia will be thinking they are a real chance to make some inroads before tea.

Australia still leads by 88 runs.

Aiden Markram 1 (6) c Head b Starc, FOW: 1-12

So, how much more swing are we going to see?

FOUR! Oh boy. That’s a great shot, upright and punching backward of point. It’s just a bit short, but Ackerman used the bounce and the pace to keep the ball down and played it safely past a motionless gully.

He leaves the next.

Ackerman fends a shorter one into the backward point region and takes a single.

Markram drives to mid off but there is no run.

The hammer is out, just breaking down some of the ridges around the landing zone that Hazlewood will be planting his giant feet into in a few short moments time.

BEATEN! A beauty from Hazlewood, rising outside off, across the face of Ackerman and beating the outside edge.

Two slips and a leg slip in place.

FOUR! Off the outside edge between second slip and gully for a third-man boundary.

Ackerman defends off his stumps, a positive looking defensive stroke, wanting to push forward.

HIT HIM! Right on the hand and chest area. As we keep getting reminded on the Fox TV coverage, batting can be dangerous and one can sometimes expect to get ready for a broken arm. That is just an awkward one. Steep bounce, Ackerman didn’t know where he wanted to be and is struck on the hand and chest there.

BEATEN! Hazlewood has the ball on a string, wobble seam and across Ackerman, beating the outside edge. Superb follow up from the bouncer. Pain, followed by precision.

Ackerman clips the last off his leg for a single to fine leg.

I mean, he is due…

I mean, who else?

Is he going to swing it? All eyes on these first deliveries…

Three slips and a gully, Markram attempts to drive into the off side, but can’t time his shot and it falls just down in front of him. Bit short, no swing.

That was a bit fuller, and a bit of swing into the right handed batter from over the wicket.

BIG APPEAL! Starc likes it – nobody else does. There was swing, good swing for Starc and that did come back into him. It’s very high so they won’t go upstairs.

Off the mark for Markram, a bit short and he pushes to deep point for a single.

Left-hander on deck now, Ackerman fresh off 95 in the first innings. Three slips and a gully, Ackerman defends off his pads.

Ackerman gets off the mark by pushing into the covers for a swift single.

It is so hard to know.

Everything, and I don’t think I am being overly dramatic here, comes down to whether this new ball will swing.

If it does, giddy up, because South Africa’s batters might be in a bit of strife – and that 100 run lead will look very impressive.

If South Africa can bat and make, say, 300 for a lead of 200, chasing that on days four and five might be a bit problematic for the Aussies – if the South African bowlers are fully fit after a monumental effort over the past couple of days – and some stomach issues.

Australia has a lead, a very, very good lead, of 100 runs after being bowled out for 429.

It’s perhaps not as much as they might have hoped.

But this pitch does just look as though it is starting to do something here.

There’s been a couple of puffs of dust off the deck and, with that ball at least, there has been some reverse swing that made a huge difference.

Any sort of swing may end up being the difference here.

Australia in the box seat? You’d think so.

Connolly drives!

Jansen leans down and catches it in his follow through.

And that is the end of that!

Cooper Connolly 29 (83) c&b Jansen, FOW: 10-429

Josh Hazlewood is the new man in.

FOUR! And he crushes the first ball he faces to the cover boundary! He played a long way from his body, all hands and no feet but perfectly timed. No swing for Mulder and it cost him a boundary.

The lead is 100

Hazlewood drives to cover, who makes a stop this time.

Hazlewood defends on his stumps.

Brilliant outswinger from Wiaan Mulder and Simon Harmer takes the catch at second slip.

That’s great bowling, once he found his groove, Mulder persisted and got the swinging ball to sing to him.

Nathan Lyon 1 (25) c Harmer b Mulder, FOW: 9-425

Lyon is on strike and he defends the first.

Good yorker from Mulder there, Lyon doing very well to keep it out, but keep it out he does, nicely played by Lyon.

Around the wicket for Jansen, and Connolly has to get up on his toes to fend the ball down in front of him. The field is spread so it’s very safe to do so, although there is a bat pad.

Bouncer again, but that one didn’t get up too high and Connolly almost got a chest rub from that one as he leaned back away from it.

Another bouncer, but Connolly is having to duck and the ball is barely getting over him.

Over the wicket from Jansen.

GOT HIM! That’s hit him hard and Connolly ducked right into it. That’s hit the helmet with a fearsome clunk. That’s hit him absolutely flush on the badge. Jansen’s first instinct is to walk away but once the medical staff come out he does have a look and says something. They’ll conduct their checks and make sure the youngster is OK to continue.

And it seems that he is.

I wonder where this next ball is going to go from Jansen?

Right up at the chin, and Connolly wants to run to get off strike but some good fielding keeps him in the blockhole.

I wonder where this next ball is going to go?

Another bouncer, chest height, and Connolly has to fend it away just in front of bat pad. That’s great pace bowling from Jansen.

Again, I know Rabada is ill, but Mulder is not the play here.

Nathan Lyon defends solidly.

EDGED! DOWN! Lyon edges to second slip, Harmer falls away to his right and the ball just doesn’t carry to Simon Harmer! He couldn’t be much closer than he already is, but that’s so unfortunate for Simon Harmer and the South Africans.

BEATEN! Good ball from Mulder, who I feel sorry for doubting now. That ball moved away a little and Lyon just dangled the bat outside the line.

BEATEN AGAIN! Great ball, same as the last. Lyon is now edgy.

Lyon fends to backward point, a more confident stroke that time.

Another better push from Lyon outside off. Well negotiated in the end.

Connolly cuts, a lovely square shot but no run taken.

I can’t help but think Connolly could, and should, trust Nathan Lyon a bit more here. He’s a competent batter and can hold up an end if he needs to.

FOUR! That’s a very good shot from Connolly, driving past cover and the ball races away to the boundary.

Jansen is going to come around the wicket, I fear young Cooper Connolly is going to get some chin music for his impudence at hitting that shot and failing to run all that much.

Bouncer, Connolly leans his head back nonchalantly. That’s unlikely to help Jansen’s mood.

APPEAL! Big yorker! A good yorker. His appeals need work – it was just a little shout more than anything. Also, Connolly hit that with the middle of the base of his bat. Not out.

A bouncer ends the over – keeps Nathan Lyon on strike at the other end.

Connolly clips to wide mid on for no run.

Connolly clips away to midwicket. No run.

Connolly drives to point, again no run is taken.

The brakes have been firmly put on here.

Connolly clips off his pads and he will take a run this time down to deep backward square leg.

Wiaan Mulder has bowled with nothing like the intensity required here so far.

Two nothing balls to Lyon ends the over and South Africa needs to change something here.

Connolly drives to cover – there’s a run available there but they don’t take it.

Connolly cuts to wide third man, no run taken again.

Left on length by Connolly. A tight leave but a good leave.

Down the leg side, off Connolly’s pad but well taken by a tumbling Rickelton…

Down the leg side again, a leg bye is taken this time as the ball dribbles away to backward square leg.

Lyon leaves the one ball he is allowed to face.

I just don’t think this is the play for South Africa.

Mulder drops short, a half volley for Connolly outside off and he takes advantage with a push into the covers for a couple.

Left outside off, there is a gasp from the crowd that ripples around like the heat haze in Cape Town, but there was little to get excited about there.

Driven to mid off for no run that time by Connolly.

Too straight, Connolly takes a single into the leg side.

Two balls for Lyon, who is hardly a bunny down at number 10.

BEATEN! That’s a great ball from Mulder, Lyon just prodding forward a little and the ball fizzing past the outside of the bat.

FOUR! Down the leg side, horrible bowling from Mulder, and it will be byes. Ryan Rickelton didn’t have much chance but he perhaps could have done better – he did get glove to it.

He’s not been all that well, Marco Jansen, which is why he’s not had a lot of overs – just four in that first session. He needs to bowl well here.

Two slips, a gully, Connolly pushes into the covers but turns down the run. Australia’s lead is 82.

Oh there’s a bit of swing there, going down towards leg and hitting Connolly on the pad.

More reverse swing, better starting line and Connolly drives to cover for no run.

Outside off, left alone by Connolly.

Connolly defends a back of a length delivery off the inside edge of his bat onto his pads.

Connolly pulls a short one and it’s high into the leg side – it will fall safe and they will run a single.

It’s the big question, how many more can Australia get with two wickets in hand?

I wonder whether Connolly comes out and chances his arm a little after the lunch break to try and add to the lead.

The pitch is still playing well, so Australia would love to get to somewhere around the 150-run mark, considering they’ve got to bat last on this pitch.

The conditions may be batter-friendly right now, but I promise you, it’ll be nasty out here on day five when Australia has to bat in the fourth innings.

South Africa far from out of this contest.

The Sydney Thunder have got their WBBL season off to a winning start, beating the Melbourne Renegades by six wickets at Junction Oval.

The Thunder chased down the Renegades’ total of 138 with 18 balls to spare.

Thunder number three batter Anika Learoyd scored 48 off 37 balls, building on Georgia Voll (25) and Phoebe Litchfield’s (17)  34-run opening partnership.

Her innings came to a halt when Tayla Vlaeminck, bowling with real pace, bowled her to claim a first WBBL wicket in five years.

Hayley Matthews scored 45 off 30 balls at the top of the order for the Rengades, but Voll’s 4-26 with the ball underlined a genuine all-rounder’s opponent.

What a bizarre game of cricket going on at Adelaide Oval.

Only three wickets fell on day one, as Western Australia powered to a score that would eventually be 5-406, Cameron Bancroft scoring 186 for WA.

Good pitch?

Apparently not one that would last more than a day, with 18 wickets falling on day two.

South Australia were bowled out for 154, Jhye Richardson taking 3-29, including two in two balls (and he was unlucky not to get an LBW decision for a hat-trick in truth).

Then, WA were reduced to 6-79, Brendan Doggett taking 3-19.

WA do still have a commanding lead of 331 runs in the match and, with the bowlers suddenly discovering something, you’d back them in from here.

If you couldn’t love him enough anyway, all round Aussie nice guy Alex Carey has told ABC Sport that he loves the Sheffield Shield, which he helped South Australia win last year.

Loving first class cricket clearly makes you a great person.

But how has his state done in the opening match of round three? Let’s have a look, shall we?

A fascinating session in the books with the ledger reading 4-81 in the end from 27 overs.

South Africa will be happy to have made some inroads, but they won’t want the Aussies to grab a lead of much more than 100.

The conditions for batting still appear to be very good, but with this pitch getting more and more abrasive, Nathan Lyon will become a factor in the third innings.

Cooper Connolly has looked a little streaky so far, but he’s still out there, while Lyon looks as solid as ever with the bat.

I wonder whether we see more of Marco Jansen after lunch with South Africa needing to wrap this thing up without much more damage.

The highlight of the opening session was Josh Inglis making his second Test ton, but unfortunately for Australia, he wasn’t able to kick on and make it a big one.

South Africa did well to remove Alex Carey shortly afterwards as well, getting some new batters at the crease.

Tosses up the first one outside off but Lyon reaches forward and defends solidly.

He works the next one away into the leg side but lets out a big “NO!” to Connolly, who considers a single.

Another delivery outside off from Harmer and Lyon again defends.

He goes wider with this one and Lyon reaches forward and defends. The fielders behind the stumps are trying to goad him into a big shot here.

Harmer goes around the wicket and pitches it on middle and Lyon drives him down the wicket.

A fuller delivery and Lyon defends and that’s lunch!

Coetzee stays around the wicket to Connolly, who leaves the first one alone as it pitches wide outside off stump.

I’d be going to Jansen here with just a few minutes left before lunch, if I’m Bavuma.

Connolly with a big drive into the deep past backward point, but turns down the single again to protect Lyon from the paceman.

A good short one from Coetzee, a little down the leg side though and Connolly ducks under comfortably.

Coetzee pitches one on the back of a length on a middle stump line and Connolly defends down the pitch.

A good delivery, this time a little fuller, and Connolly defends it down the pitch again. That one looked much quicker.

A bouncer to end the over and Connolly ducks under it once again to give the Proteas a full over at Lyon next up.

LBW APPEAL! Harmer gets one to go on with the arm and strikes Connolly on the pads, but that’s going down leg.

A full delivery next up and Harmer fields well off his own bowling to deny a single.

Another one aimed at middle and leg and Harmer again dives to keep Connolly on strike after a strong drive.

Harmer goes a bit shorter and Connolly drives well to keep it out, but can’t get off strike.

Floated up and Connolly punches off the back foot to pick up a single.

Lyon with one ball to negotiate.

Harmer flights one outside off and Lyon drives off the back foot but it’s a dot ball to end the over.

Ryan Rickelton has just denied a proposal from a man in the crowd to his mum.

EDGED! Coetzee goes full outside off and catches the edge of Connolly’s bat, but the ball doesn’t quite carry to Aiden Markram at second slip.

Driven uppishly from Connolly to the man in the deep and we’ve got some strike farming because he turns down the single.

A slower one from Coetzee outside off and Connolly initially attempts a drive, but then pulls out in the nick of time.

FOUR! How’s he dug this out?! Coetzee with a lovely inswinging yorker and Connolly gets his bat down and times it impeccably as it whizzes through the covers.

Coetzee bangs the next one in short, but it’s down the leg side, easily left alone.

Another good length delivery but Connolly picks up a single to end the over to retain the strike.

We’ve got some offie on offie crime happening as Harmer sizes up Lyon.

He starts over the wicket and spins one into Lyon’s pads and Lyon whips him away for a single on the leg side.

Around the wicket to Connolly next up, and he defends a good delivery on middle stump.

An identical delivery again, good drift from Harmer and Connolly once again defends.

He gets outside off with the next one and draws a big drive out of Connolly, who picks up a single to the man in the deep.

A good delivery pitching outside off and Lyon leans forward and defends well.

This one goes on with the arm a little and Lyon defends on the back foot this time.

Nathan Lyon is the new man at the crease. He can prove to be a very annoying tailender on his day, always puts a high price on his wicket.

Coetzee starts over the wicket to the right-hander.

Swings one in towards middle and leg and the ball thuds off Lyon’s thigh pad into the leg side and he picks up a leg bye.

He goes around the wicket to Connolly, but this one is too wide and Connolly shoulders arms easily.

A good full length delivery to end the over which Connolly digs out.

Gerald Coetzee is finally on the board and he is rapt!

A good length delivery just outside off and he draws the rash drive out of Mitchell Starc, and Starc only succeeds in nick it through to Ryan Rickelton.

Coetzee smacks his own head in frustration and celebration, an important wicket that!

Mitchell Starc c Rickelton b Coetzee 11 (29), FOW: 8-402

This has developed into another handy partnership for the Aussies, it’s now up to 22 runs.

Coetzee stays over the wicket to Connolly and pitches it on middle and off and Connolly dabs it into the off side to pick up a single.

Coetzee around the wicket to Starc who defends one on the off side.

Harmer resumes his battle with Starc, who has remained very patient thus far.

Floats another one in on middle stump and Starc drives into the covers.

FOUR! A bit of width that time and Starc rocks back and cuts it through backward point and that takes Australia past the 400-run mark.

A similar length, but the line is better next up and Starc is dotted up.

Gets fuller with the next one and Starc is forward and defending.

Another shorter one from Harmer, a little quicker, and Starc defends on the back foot.

Floated up, that’s better from Harmer, and Starc defends on the front foot. He’s got to be there, not short.

Can Coetzee get his lines right here? South Africa needs him to, with Australia’s lead already at 67.

BEATEN! Floats one full and wide and gets the drive out of Starc, who plays and misses with his wild-looking shot.

Bavuma spots some loose thread on the ball and gets the umpires to slice it off.

A better area from Coetzee and Starc gets inside the line and defends into the off side.

Short from Coetzee, but the line isn’t right and it’s left alone. Just 137.9 kph, his pace is definitely down from yesterday.

The next one is closer to off stump but Starc again backs away a little and picks up a single to the sweeper on the off side.

Coetzee comes over the wicket to Connolly and tests him with a short one, but Connolly sways under it easily.

BEATEN! That’s the length! Pitches it on middle and it swings away and whooshes past Connolly’s big cover drive attempt.

Harmer pitches one in middle and Connolly drives nicely down the ground for a single.

Good flight again from Harmer, pitching on middle and Starc reaches forward and defends.

A similar delivery again and Starc drives it straight to the man in the covers.

Slower from Harmer that time and Starc dabs it down to short third man and picks up a quick single, good running!

Harmer angles one into off stump and Connolly defends on the front foot.

This one is aimed at middle and Connolly again defends. Another tight over from Harmer, who’s got 4-97 off 33 overs now.

Gerald Coetzee has his first chance to go at the batters this morning, replacing Rabada.

He starts around the wicket to Connolly. I wonder whether he’ll get some of that reverse as well.

FOUR! Full and wide, poor delivery, that’s a 127.9 kph loosener and Connolly frees his hands and flays it over backward point.

Better from Coetzee, but still too much width and Connolly swats it away for a single to the man at deep point.

EDGED! FOUR! Unlucky! Good delivery from Coetzee, he catches the edge from Starc, but this one flies through the vacant third slip region.

Wider again from Coetzee and Starc leaves it alone this time. Australia’s lead now up to 65.

Shorter from Coetzee, but it’s again too wide and Starc is able to leave it easily.

Real wide again from Coetzee to end the over, he’s not gotten into his rhythm yet. Starc again leaves.

Harmer staying around the wicket as he comes in to Connolly for his 32nd over of the innings.

The first one pitches on middle and Connolly defends it down the pitch on the back foot.

Lovely flight from Harmer, getting the ball to drive towards leg stump and Connolly defends on the front foot this time.

Full from Harmer and Connolly knocks it down to mid-on for a quick single, good running.

Floats it up outside off, trying to tempt Starc, but Starc defends into the off side.

Floated up again, but it’s too full. Starc picks up a single down to long-off.

Lovely flight from Harmer to end the over! It’s another big tempter it’s met with a lovely leave. Good cricket all around.

Rabada continuing his spell. He looked really unwell during the DRS review for the Cummins wicket.

He’s around the wicket to start to Connolly and sends the first one down leg side where Connolly misses an attempted flick.

A good length delivery just outside off and Connolly knocks it into the off side and picks up a single. Not sure why they don’t bring the man up there.

CLOSE! Rabada swings one in to Starc and my goodness, that’s so close to knocking him over. It actually swung too much and hit Starc on the pads before squeaking past leg stump.

Angled in towards middle and leg again, this time it’s fuller, and Starc clips it away to get off the mark.

Looks like Rabada is getting some reverse swing here.

This one pitches and seams away from Connolly, and he knocks it to the man in the deep on the off side and picks up another easy single.

Another in-dipper from Rabada and this time Starc drives it well down the pitch, but Rabada fields in his follow-through.

Taking over from Mr. Smale for the remainder of this session and suddenly we’ve got a contest once again!

Mitchell Starc is the new man at the crease after the dismissal of Pat Cummins, but he won’t be on strike just yet.

Harmer continuing what has been a brilliant spell as he sizes up Connolly.

The first one pitches on off stump and Connolly drives to the man in the covers.

Harmer goes a little straighter next up and Connolly drives down through mid-off for a single.

Yorker length from Harmer on middle stump to Starc, who digs it out back down the pitch.

Better length that time, gets Starc reaching and defending down the pitch.

CLOSE! Pitches it shorter and it skids through and Starc juuust gets the bat down in the nick of time.

Harmer tosses up the final delivery of the over and Starc drives to the man in the covers. A good over once again from the offie.

The finger went straight up there from Richard Illingworth. Looked good live. The ball darted in a little and hit Cummins right on the knee roll.

He did get a bit of a hop on though.

There’s no bat involved. I think this will be umpires call.

IT’S UMPIRES CALL! Cummins is out!

It’s just clipping the top of leg stump.

Right, that’s enough from me, Chris de Silva will take you through to lunch.

Pat Cummins 0 (6) LBW b Rabada, FOW 7-380

Good ball, outside off and Cooper Connolly hasn’t looked entirely comfortable out there, and doesn’t look so there either, as the ball goes outside him.

Connolly fends to point and will take a single.

Good ball, and quick from Rabada to Cummins. 145km/h that has Cummins looking a bit uncomfortable.

Down the leg side from Rabada, and Cummins flicks his bat towards it without making contact.

Two slips and a gully in place. Leg slip comes in too.

Bit of dart in off the surface then from outside off, Cummins doing pretty well to get bat on it and keep it out.

And Cummins defends solidly after that quick drink.

That’s excellent!

Simon Harmer with the turn, drifting in and dipping. It catches the outside edge and goes straight to slip! Aiden Markram with a very good catch low down.

It’s been a great innings for Alex Carey, and it took a very good ball to get him out.

Another huge wicket for South Africa!

Time for a drink.

Alex Carey 80 (186) c Markram b Harmer, FOW: 6-379

Carey defends the first couple that are angled towards his stumps from around the wicket.

There’s a slip and a leg slip in place.

And stars by pegging a ball straight into the midriff of Alex Carey, who walks away taking a deep breath or two, no doubt.

Outside off, Rabada steaming in to bowl at 140km/h but not forcing Carey to play at the ball.

Carey check-pulls the ball to midwicket for a single.

BEATEN! Good ball, again Connolly betraying some nerves by fending at the ball as it fizzes past outside off.

Bouncer, Connolly ducks under it. Bit of a waste from Rabada.

He leaves the last alone outside off, and earns a visual rebuke from the South African quick, who remains wicketless.

And Carey drives to mid off for a single.

CLOSE! Good ball from Harmer, getting Connolly stretching forward to defend the ball.

CLOSE! Another good ball there from Harmer, an inside edge saving Connolly from LBW.

There’s an appeal from Rickelton, but not sure why. Connolly gets a bit of bat on that ball before it hits the pad, a sweep well stopped by Bedingham.

Connolly defends.

Good over, but well negotiated in the end.

FOUR! Carey clips the ball off the toe end on the bat, past the slips to the third man boundary. More frustration for South Africa.

Carey drives square on the up, a single out to deep point.

Cooper Connolly, the new man, is going to be introduced to the batting crease by Kagiso Rabada.

Outside off, Connolly doesn’t chase it and leaves well alone.

There are two slips and a gully in place.

BEATEN! That’s close, a rising ball that Connolly fends at outside off. He was close to getting a touch on that one. Rabada stares at the youngster.

Now he’s off the mark, a nice push into the covers for a single.

Carey pushes to deep point for a single to end the over.

Brilliant ball from Simon Harmer!

Drift away, that had Inglis reaching for the ball outside off, and then the turn back in.

He gets a feather of an edge to it and the ball nestles in the gloves of Ryan Rickelton.

A superb innings comes to an end and finally South Africa breaks this partnership.

Josh Inglis 102 (135) c Rickelton b Harmer,  FOW 5-362

Inglis defends the next ball into the off side..

And then he clips away for a single.

Carey paddle sweeps over to fine leg for a couple – and South Africa move a leg slip in to respond to that – a bit like trying to put the horses back in the paddock.

Now he runs a single.

What a lovely shot from Josh Inglis to bring up his second Test century.

He’s played as well as anyone has in this series by delivering this innings.

Perfectly timed, always looking to score but never reckless and that reverse sweep has been a perfect example of that.

101 runs off 132 balls.

Well played.

Small mercies for South Africa, it was not his bowling hand that got smashed up there.

He is going to come into the attack with that finger absolutely throbbing in pain.

FOUR! What a shot from Josh Inglis!

OK, so we’re told that Rabada didn’t bowl straight away because he had been off the field late yesterday.

My word, South Africa need a big bowling performance from their key striker here. A massive moment in this first hour, that so far has been going very well for Australia.

Inglis clips off his hip for a single straight away.

Carey defends the next couple.

A bit of excitement there as Carey has to flinch away from a 140km/h shorter ball that rears up past Carey’s head.

Solid defence there from Carey, another rising ball outside off.

EDGED! DROPPED IS IT? Four for Alex Carey as he edges past slip to third man. It did carry to Harmer at second slip. A hugely tough chance, and he’s split the nail in attempting to make the catch. It was dying on him, it came at tremendous pace. He’s bled for the cause, Simon Harmer, but there’s no wicket at the end of it.

Jansen and Bavuma are having a little chat before this over gets underway.

FOUR! It probably wasn’t about doing this… Gorgeous shot from Carey, outside off, Carey driving on the up safe in the knowledge that the bounce will be true. Good shot.

Perhaps this is what the chat was about, a change in the field, bouncer barrage is coming I’d think…

Carey clips off his pads for a single.

Jansen bowls a full toss outside off which is fended away for a single to backward point.

Carey defends.

OH! Horrible full toss from Jansen! And a no ball. That just slipped out of his hand. He gets a warning, as you’d expect, but it wasn’t intentional.

Bouncer this time as Jansen over-compensates and Carey ducks under it.

Carey defends the last.

Inglis is rapped on the pad and will run a leg bye. Not a great ball.

He was over the wicket to Inglis, but now Mulder comes around to Carey, who clips off his pads to square leg for a single.

Back over the wicket, and Inglis cuts late for a couple more.

At the risk of putting the mockers on them, South Africa’s bowlers have looked about as likely to take a wicket here as I would. Australia could be in for the long haul.

Inglis drives to Mulder, who fields off his own bowling.

He has to fend off his pads there though, slightly better line but easily handled by Inglis.

It’s up at 161 runs now.

They’d have to go some to extend the partnership into a new calendar year though…

Good carry from Jansen, but comfortably left on length by Inglis outside off, the wicketkeeper-turned-fielder shouldering arms.

He gets a single next ball to get off strike.

Carey drives to cover, where Mulder does a brilliant diving stop to save a couple – they will run two.

Carey drives through cover again, this time a bit straighter and Mulder has to run a lot further. He gets there and stops the ball with his foot, almost tying himself in a knot deciding whether he would need to adjust his stride or should drive. This time they get three.

Inglis has to duck under a bouncer.

Inglis keeps the strike with a single to midwicket.

He wants to believe that there’s a wicket to be taken here.

He starts straight, with Rickelton up behind the stumps.

Solid defence from Inglis and then a sneaky single.

Around the wicket to left handed Carey who defends solidly.

Carey fends back the way the ball came from, Mulder back-handing it back to Rickelton at gentle pace.

Carey fends to square leg but there’s no run there. He’ll be OK taking his time.

Carey fends to cover – again there’s no run.

He was not quite in the best of health yesterday, like his strike bowling partner Rabada. But he is digging in here.

He starts short and Carey gets under it pretty comfortably.

Solid defence from Carey – Jansen is coming over the wicket to the left hander, but expect him to mix it up a bit over the next little while.

Carey just fends off his pad into square leg. No run, a firm shout from Carey ensuring that Inglis didn’t think otherwise.

Bouncer, Jansen already looks irritated. It is hard to get a real read on the giant allrounder from Potchefstroom in the North West Province near Pretoria so he may be absolutely thrilled as well. Hard to tell.

Not a productive over for Australia, but the discipline of yesterday has carried over into this morning session and that’s a great sign.

And that’s not great news for South Africa.

Kagiso Rabada is out there, but perhaps still isn’t right to bowl at express pace. The commentators are saying that he has a stomach bug.

Down the leg side, left alone by Inglis.

FOUR! Poor from Coetzee, who has not had the impact he would have liked coming into the side. He dived over the ball at mid on and the ball races away to the boundary. Sloppy.

Inglis defends.

Oh and that was closer, Inglis just getting an inside edge as he falls across to the off side, the ball nipping back into the Australian batter.

Only a single slip, who watches as Inglis defends.

A helmet has been called for, and that means that Ryan Rickelton is going to come up to the stumps and keep Inglis in his crease a bit more.

Lovely defence to end the over, high elbows and a straight bat.

It looks like a belter of a day out there in Cape Town. The colour of that sky is worth the subscription fee alone. The crags of Table Mountain jagged and vivid against the blue.

Marco Jansen is holding onto the ball from the Wynberg End.

He starts leg side to Alex Carey, who can’t tickle it away to fine leg.

Better line, Carey defends solidly.

Only two slips, they both grimace as Carey defends with the inside half of his bat to a fuller ball by Jansen.

Nicely driven by Carey, a bit too wide from Jansen, and it’s a single out to the boundary rider at deep cover.

Driven square by Inglis, a bit of a stretch for the sub wicket keeper, and a tad uppish, but safe enough for a single out to deep point.

INSIDE EDGE! Oh that is unlucky for Marco Jansen, and the sort of moment that might instantly plant dark thoughts into the minds of the Proteas, who had so many near misses yesterday. Carey was so close to chopping on there. He will run a couple after great fielding on the boundary.

Some positive news about Steve Smith.

Scans have confirmed that the veteran batter has suffered an injury to a cervical facet joint.

That is one of the joints that helps stabilise movement in the neck.

“Steve will continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation, with a full return to availability anticipated for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

That’s good news, then.

Here’s more about that.

The first hour is going to be massive.

Australia has reason to be positive – unless someone left a sprinkler on overnight, this pitch won’t have changed enough to be all that different from how it played yesterday.

But the Proteas could get their tails up with a good couple of overs with a new-ish ball in their hands.

If Rabada has recovered from whatever was ailing him yesterday, it could be a big test for Australia.

So important not to get ahead of themselves.

It’s safe today that South Africa did not have the day they were hoping for yesterday.

So what went wrong?

There were a couple of slices of luck that went against them.

Opinion seems split on the catch that didn’t carry that would have dismissed Cam Green, and the umpires call LBW shout on Matt Renshaw would have certainly knocked off the bails had he not got his pad in the way.

Then there were inside edges that missed the stumps, edges that flew over the slips… it was tough.

But South Africa didn’t help themselves, either.

“There was effort there the whole day,” Piet Botha, the Proteas’ bowling coach, said.

“Maybe if we’re self critical, we didn’t hit our length for long periods of time.”

It probably didn’t help that Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were both struggling at times with various unconfirmed ailments.

It’s incredible, isn’t it Mike.

I think we all perhaps felt the worst was imminent when we were waiting the start yesterday.

But the patience of the batting has been really impressive.

They have summed up a placid pitch very well and made sure they can make the South Africans toil on it.

Of course, Marnus Labuschagne has not had the best of days yesterday.

Another failure, on a pitch that is evidently brilliant to bat on, and his time in the Australian side surely must be limited.

“Marnus is a great mate of mine,” Matt Renshaw said.

“As batters, we can get out at any point and unfortunately today was a short one for him.

“But from what I’ve seen in the first two Tests, he’s been moving probably as well as I’ve seen him bat.

“Unfortunately, sometimes you need a bit of luck and that’s cricket. But the way he’s going, I think he’s very close.”

Luck? There was a stat going around a few years back that Labuschagne was the luckiest of batters in Test cricket in terms of dropped catches and the like.

Perhaps the universe is evening things up for the unfortunate Queensland batter.

Playing his first Test of the series in Cape Town, Cameron Green had to come into the line up in the crucial number four batting spot.

But if he had any nerves, he did not show them.

After taking 15 balls to get off the mark, Green crushed a lofted cover drive off the final ball of the morning session from Marco Jansen.

Then, he smashed three boundaries off as many balls against the off-colour Kagiso Rabada.

Matt Renshaw noted that sort of flurry could have led to the tall all rounder losing his head.

“At times, if you hit a few boundaries in a row, you get a bit giddy,” Renshaw said.

“So it’s just about calming him down and sort of getting him to think about the process.

“I get along really well with Cam off the field, so that helps, but it’s obviously different stages [the pair were at].

“I was in for probably an hour and a half before Cam came in, so I’m at a completely different mindset and tempo compared to when he’s come in.

“He’s pretty fresh, he’s buzzing around a lot. So it’s just about me being the calmer head out there, trying to calm him down.

“There’s a few times where we sort of had some conversations [asking] what was going on there, and it was just about calming each other down, relaxing each other, and just trying to keep our tempos as much as we could.”

I won’t lie, there was a nap had today here as well.

Carey has got all of the ability in the world and, when he bats they way he batted yesterday, has all the potential to score big.

Unfortunately he always seems prone to just losing concentration at the worst possible time.

Hopefully he can bat big today.

Day two was unquestionably Australia’s.

Just four wickets falling.

Four batters getting half centuries.

A first innings lead.

It couldn’t have gone much better.

And it’s all down to the delivery of some big partnerships, two century stands and a half century opening pairing among them.

“We’ve sort of hinted at some partnerships over the first two Tests – probably more so with the bowlers – so it was just about the batters trying to build some partnerships out there,” Matt Renshaw said in the press conference yesterday.

“Fortunately we had a couple of good ones.”

That all came without Steve Smith, although Renshaw said that the absence of the talismanic batter was not front and centre of Australia’s batters’ minds.

“I think we all know our jobs. Steve’s [Smith] obviously a massive loss for that batting group, but the guys coming in – Cam’s got a really good record, Josh obviously has already got a Test hundred, he hopefully gets another one tomorrow.

“So, no, there wasn’t any discussions [about batting without Smith].

“It was more just how could we stick to our tempo, stick to our plans.”

Anyone who has watched Test cricket over the last few years may have been stunned by the competency shown by the batting unit yesterday.

In fact, it was almost historic.

Four batters getting half centuries without Steve Smith, David Warner or Usman Khawaja being one of them in nearly 13 years is quite remarkable.

The vague suspicion before play on day two of the Cape Town Test was that Australia — out of form, stalked by rumours of disharmony in the ranks, its batting line-up restocked and reshuffled for the umpteenth time — was one more calamitous batting collapse away from the end of an era.

The day of perfectly calm and controlled Test batting that took place instead was no less arresting, and in the context of this topsy-turvy series, far more surprising. For 90 overs, Australia batted diligently, adaptively, intelligently and at changing tempos, building a series of reassuring partnerships that put it in control of the game.

Read more from Russell Jackson, right here.

Look, we’ve all been there.

A nice, warm day. The gently thrum of cricket playing out in the background, leather on willow and the excited sounds of men at play.

Having a nap is natural.

Shame though, because it was a cracking day’s play.

Here’s the five quick hits.

Australia’s batters cashed in, that’s what happened yesterday.

Four men scored half centuries, two of them are still out there, and Australia are just four wickets down and ahead on the scoreboard after two days of cricket at Newlands.

Here’s our commentary team’s thoughts on a superb day of play for the tourists.

And here’s our wrap.

Hello everyone and welcome to what promises to be the crucial day in this series.

Australia are in the box seat, their disciplined batting proving that South Africa were as much as 150 runs short of a par score in their first dig on a pitch that has done very, very little to assist the bowlers.

With six first innings wickets remaining Australia should be looking at a lead well in excess of 100, probably closer to 200.

From there, the match is theirs to lose.

Should be a fun day, because South Africa will know all that and be desperate not to let themselves be overturned like that.

My name is Simon Smale, Chris de Silva is with me and we are both looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling day of Test match cricket.