Simon Harmer struck twice in his first over to leave Australia 90 for two at lunch on the second day of the third and deciding Dafabet test at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The visitors began their first innings this morning after dismissing South Africa for 329 shortly before close of play on day one and it was a toil for the South African seamers. Kagiso Rabada (6-0-18-0), Marco Jansen (6-1-25-0), Gerald Coetzee (5-1-18-0) and Wiaan Mulder (6-1-20-0) all tried and failed to find the breakthrough.
However, captain Temba Bavuma turned to Harmer and the change brought about immediate success as Travis Head chopped Harmer's (4-2-5-2) first ball onto his stumps to depart for a 49-ball 41, which included seven boundaries.
Marnus Labuschagne's troubled tour continued as he edged Harmer's final ball of the first over straight to Aiden Markram at first slip to depart without scoring, leaving the visitors on 58 for two.
Matt Renshaw (27*) and Cameron Green (17*) managed the balance of the session despite Coetzee pinging the batsmen on a few occasions.
Pat Cummins had won the toss on Tuesday and asked the Proteas to take first strike, to the surprise of many. The decision looked to be the incorrect one as Markam (78) and Marques Ackerman (95) enjoyed the sunny skies, adding 140 without loss in the morning session.
Australia though fought back in the post-lunch session, claiming four wickets while restricting the hosts to just 81 runs. It was also spin that broke the opening stand of 158 - a new record for South Africa at Newlands against Australia - as Nathan Lyon (23-1-71-2) had Ackerman stumped just five runs short of a maiden test ton.
Markram, who had been dropped on 39 by Head from the bowling of Mitchell Starc (16.3-2-72-6) shortly before lunch, was next to go, trying to pull Josh Hazlewood (15-3-59-1) only to sky the ball to Starc in the long-on region.
Bavuma (0) lasted just three balls as he was bowled by Lyon and then the left-arm spin of Cooper Connolly (9-0-41-1) accounted for Matthew Breetzke (2), trapped in front. Ryan Rickelton (42) and David Bedingham (50) went to tea with the hosts on 221 for four.
The evening session belonged to Australia and Starc in particular. Shortly after the tea break, Starc removed Bedingham, caught by Hazlewood at fine leg and then had Mulder edging behind to Alex Carey for just two.
Rickleton and Jansen (52) then stemmed the flow with a 95-run stand for the seventh wicket before the new ball caused absolute chaos. Starc, with some excellent left-arm pace, claimed four wickets in the space of six deliveries to end the innings shortly before the close.
Rickelton was trapped plumb in front, two balls later Jansen was castled and then in his next over, Starc clean bowled Coetzee (0) with the first delivery and then trapped Rabada (0) in front with the third ball.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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