CAPE TOWN : Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets as Australia recovered from a disastrous start to bowl out South Africa for 329 on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test at Newlands.
South Africa appeared headed for a commanding total after openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram shared a 158-run partnership following Australia captain Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first.
Ackerman struck 95 off 94 balls, while Markram contributed 78, but neither converted their strong starts into centuries as the hosts suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse.
Nathan Lyon triggered the fightback by stumping Ackerman before dismissing South Africa captain Temba Bavuma for a duck.
Starc then exploited the short ball to remove David Bedingham and Wiaan Mulder in quick succession as South Africa lost five wickets for 29 runs.
Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton briefly revived the innings with a 95-run seventh-wicket partnership before Starc returned with the second new ball to dismantle the lower order.
The left-arm paceman finished with impressive figures of 6-72, while Lyon took 2-71.
Australia entered the match without Steve Smith, who failed to recover from a neck injury sustained during the second Test.
The visitors made four changes for their first Test at Newlands since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
With the series level at 1-1, Starc’s late burst left the deciding Test finely balanced despite South Africa’s dominant opening session.
