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Australia strike late to restrict South Africa to 140-4, just 40 runs ahead, on the third day of men’s third Test– as it happened

An Inglis century and a flurry of wickets late in the day has Australia in control as South Africa close the third day on 140-4, leading by 40 runs in their second innings.

93rd over: Australia 338-4 (Inglis 90, Carey 54) Jansen wakes up Carey with a shorter ball. He gets the ball angling into the left-hander before ending the over with two more bouncers. Maiden.

92nd over: Australia 338-4 (Inglis 90, Carey 54) Wiaan Mulder takes the ball for South Africa. Have to think Kagiso Rabada is still feeling below full fitness as he stands in the field with his side desperate for an early breakthrough or two. Gerald Coetzee dives over the ball at mid-on and it races away to the boundary. It was an exquisite straight drive from Inglis and Coetzee got an unlucky bounce. But that is two little slices of misfortune that have already struck the Proteas today.

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© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Marco Jansen belongs to a great tradition but top all-rounders are hard to find

28 October 2026 at 14:00

South African stands out, not just because of his height, but England and Australia now find themselves looking for an equivalent

If you were to bioengineer a cricketer in a laboratory, which attributes would you give them? You would make them tall, with long limbs and a whiplash action to extract steep bounce. Add speed, movement both ways and a left arm to offer a point of difference. With the bat, make sure they can whack sixes but also go down the gears when an innings starts to unravel. For an added trait, have them catch meteorites in the outfield and the cordon.

You might end up with Marco Jansen. At the start of the third Test, the 6ft 8in South African had taken 99 Test wickets at 20.81. His 85 against Australia at Gqeberha in the second Test came after South Africa had slumped to 110 for six before his counterattack helped turn a precarious position into an innings victory. Jansen is still developing as a batter, but his 25.66 average before this current Test understates his potential.

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© Photograph: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Australia reach 330-4, one run ahead of South Africa on the second day of the third men’s Test – as it happened

Inglis (85*) and Carey (51*) put on unbeaten 145 for the sixth wicket as Australia take a one run lead into the third day of deciding Test in Cape Town.

2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Renshaw 5, Head 0) All 12 balls so far have been faced by Renshaw, after that sixth-ball single. He carries on as he played in Durban, leaving wherever possible. Jansen does beat his edge at one stage, getting movement away, but Renshaw doesn’t follow the ball. When Jansen ends the over going short at the body, Renshaw gets gloves underneath it. Very organised defensive approach to the over.

1st over: Australia 5-0 (Renshaw 5, Head 0) Lovely bounce and carry from Rabada with the new ball. Two left-handers for him to aim at. The sun is shining again, the sky brilliantly blue, it looks a lovely day on the Cape. You’d best believe the mountain is hulking over the shoulder of the ground like a suspicious bouncer. Rabada doesn’t use the bouncer himself, comes around the wicket after a few balls but bowls a low full toss, and Renshaw with placement rather than effort deflects his square drive behind point for four, then takes one.

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© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

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