The third and deciding Dafabet test between South Africa and Australia - and hence the three match series - is delicately poised at the close of day three with the hosts leading by just 40 with six wickets in the bank at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
Matthew Breetzke (19*) and captain Temba Bavuma (35) fought valiantly but five minutes before the close, Nathan Lyon (14-3-31-1) broke through Bavuma's defences to alter the balance slightly.
Ryan Rickelton (8*) walked out to at the most difficult time but along with Breetzke, took South Africa to the close of play to prevent Australia from gaining any further foothold in the match after Aiden Markram (1) and David Bedingham (11) were dismissed prior to tea and Marques Ackerman (62) departed to leave South Africa 140 for four at the close.
Australia began the third day in a powerful position, 300 for four and leading by one run, with Josh Inglis (102) and Alex Carey (80) at the crease. The pair had already shared in an unbeaten 145 run stand and looked to push on under sunny Cape skies.
However, Simon Harmer (37-6-104-4) removed both set batters. First, he had Inglis caught behind by Rickelton but not before registering his second test ton and ending the 5th-wicket stand of 191. Then he had Carey pushing forward and edging to Markram at first slip to leave Australia 379 for six.
Gerald Coetzee (19-4-70-1) and Kagiso Rabada (23-1-98-1) contributed with the wickets of Mitchell Starc (11) and Pat Cummins (0) respectively as Australia went to lunch on day three at 411 for eight, an overall lead of 82.
However, the Proteas needed just 25 minutes to close out the innings as Wiaan Mulder (21-5-63-1) had Lyon (1) caught by Harmer at slip and Marco Jansen (22.1-7-60-3) finished off the innings when he took a sharp catch off his own bowling to dismiss Cooper Connolly (29).
With Australia being dismissed for 429 - losing their last six wickets for just 59 runs - South Africa would have been well-pleased to restrict the overall lead to 100.
However, Starc (9-1-29-2) had Markram driving straight to Travis Head at mid-off and then Bedingham played a loose hook-shot from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (11-1-37-1), with Lyon taking a good catch at deep backward square-leg.
Ackerman batted superbly, bringing up his second-consecutive half-century from 64 balls before gloving a sharp-short ball from Starc through to Cameron Green at first slip. Ackerman looked to review but ran out of time and was sent packing.
Despite some nervous moments, Breetzke, who now has his highest test score, and Rickelton battled through to the close to setup an intriguing fourth day after Bavuma had raised 4000 test runs.
Cummins had won the toss on the first morning and asked South Africa to bat first, and the decision looked to backfire as South Africa posted an opening stand of 158 between Markram (78) and Ackerman (95).
Despite Bedingham (50) and Jansen (52) notching up half centuries and a 41 from Rickelton, Starc(16.3-2-72-6) blew the South African lower order away with the new ball under cloudy skies. Starc's spell of 6-12 in six and a half overs had South Africa losing six wickets for 93 runs.
Lyon (2-72), Connolly (1-41) and Hazlewood (1-59) all contributed to South Africa's downfall.
Having begun the second day with an opening stand of 58 between Head (41) and Matt Renshaw (74), Harmer struck twice before lunch, removing Head and Marnus Labuschagne (0) to leave the visitors on 90 for two at lunch.
South Africa again only tasted success twice in the middle session, as Jansen (18-5-55-2) had Renshaw caught behind and then Green (65) caught in the slips by Harmer.
The evening session belonged solely to Australia as Inglis and Carey added 145 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket to put their side one run in the lead by the close. Carey had struck four boundaries in his 126 deliveries to head off unbeaten on 51 while Inglis was more aggressive, striking nine fours and two sixes from 111 balls to end the day on 85.
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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