Proteas make rampant start but Australia hit back on first day of third Test

By SABC Sport
27th October 2026

The Proteas got off to a fabulous start in the third and deciding Test against Australia at Newlands, but the tourists hit back in the final two sessions as the home side were 329 all out.

After Australia had won the toss and surprisingly opted to bowl, Proteas openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram looked comfortable, as Australia captain Pat Cummins would have pondered his decision.

The Proteas batting duo were in rampant mood, particularly Ackerman who was playing in only his second Test after making his debut at St George's Park.

The left-hander brought up his maiden Test fifty while the more experienced Markram took on the circumspect role as he watched his junior partner go on the attack against the well-established bowling attack.

Australia made a total of four changes after the defeat in the second Test - leaving out Nic Maddinson, Beau Webster and Scott Boland dropped while Steve Smith failed a late fitness test due to a neck injury.

The Proteas raced to 140 without loss at the lunch break, with Ackerman on 82 while Markram was on 56, surving an opportunity when Travis Head dropped him in the covers off Mitchell Starc.

It was the middle session that the tourists came back into the contest as spinner Nathan Lyon, brought back into the side, dismissed Ackerman for 95 stumped by wicketkeeper Alex Carey when the batter was primed for a first hundred.

Markram and David Bedingham then stitched together 45-run partnership for the second wicket but Markram was out for 78, that initiated a collapse from the home side's batting unit.

The Proteas lost a further five wickets cheaply to move from 203-1 to 233-6, including Bedingham for exactly 50, as Australia showed exactly why they are the world's top-ranked Test side.

Ryan Ricketlton and Marco Jansen then added an important 95-run stand that took the hosts beyond the 300-run mark, but Mitchell Starc broke the partnership when Australia took the second new ball as Rickelton was dismissed lbw for 42.

Jansen reached his second consecutive fifty in the series, but Starc once again was who Australia turned to as the lanky South African was castled with a brilliant yorker.

The Australia left-arm quick then wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada as the Proteas were bowled out before stumps were called.