South Africa vs Australia: 3rd Test, Day 4 - Reaction, Predictions and Betting Tips
Akarshak Roy
A late Nathon Lyon strike nodded Australia ever-so-slightly in front against South Africa on Day Three of the third Test match.
The Proteas will head into tomorrow with a lead of 40 runs and six wickets in the bag, after Australia had earlier added 99 runs from their slender one-run lead at the end of the second day's play.
Josh Inglis brought up his second and equally magnificent Test century, but perished soon after the milestone to Simon Harmer, whose four-fer helped South Africa wrestle back control, somewhat.
South Africa's top order leave runs out there
Harmer's loopy, wily off-spin, coupled with a wicket each from the pace battery on the morning, led to the end of Australia's innings on 429 after having absorbed 125.1 overs.
The Cape Town track turned dusty towards the end, as both Inglis and Alex Carey (80 off 168) succumbed to spin.
Young Cooper Connolly ran out of partners as none of the tailenders lasted more than 29 deliveries. The West Australian himself skewed one back into the bucket hands of Marco Jansen while trying to enforce a spike in the scoring rate.
Mitchell Starc led the proceedings with an early breakthrough, enticing Aiden Markram to a booming off drive, only for Travis Head's redemption catch at extra cover. David Bedingham was trapped for the second time in the Test match to short-ball stuff, holing out to deep square after merely 16 balls faced.
It painted a similar picture to the first innings' collapse that encircled South Africa. The top order batters, well-set on 50-plus scores, handed out their wickets to the Aussie bowlers after recording 140-0 at lunch.
A twin fifty from Marques Ackerman added impetus to South Africa's pursuit of the deficit, but a laser-guided bouncer from Starc clattered him on the grill of his helmet, catching the edge and carrying to Cameron Green at first slip.
Skipper Bavuma had soaked up 115 balls for his 35, but a classic Lyon off-break in the second-last over before stumps cleaned him up, making for an anti-climatic end to a delicately-poised Test match.
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Match Winner: South Africa
Placed at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet at the time of writing, South Africa will have to draw themselves out of the mire on Friday. The 22 yards in Newlands is not getting any easier, though, and anything over 150 will be an arduous challenge for Australia's much-maligned batting order.
What's more, is that Marco Jansen is the series' fourth-highest run getter. Harmer, too, averages 58.50 this series.
So, if the South African batters chip in with pocket-sized, meaningful contributions, even, then the pressure of chasing on the final day or the back half of tomorrow will probably surface.
Recommended Bet: Match Winner - South Africa
