Category: Cricket

• South Africa lead Australia by 40 runs with six wickets remaining

• Ackerman out for 62 as Bavuma dismissed on 35 in Cape Town

South Africa reached the close against Australia in a perilous position at 140 for four in ⁠their second innings on the third day of the decisive third Test at Newlands, a lead of 40 runs with six wickets remaining.

Matthew Breetzke will resume on ⁠the fourth morning on ⁠19 with batting partner ​Ryan Rickelton on eight as South Africa look to post a total that will trouble Australia batting last.

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The deciding third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town is set for a “photo finish” after a dramatic twist late on day three.

Western Australia and South Australia have played out the most action-packed day of the Sheffield Shield season so far, with 18 wickets falling across three innings in chaotic scenes at the Adelaide Oval.

Creating a masterpiece from a potential crisis, Josh Inglis has given Australia some assuredness that there will be life after Steve Smith in coming years when making a superb century in Cape Town on Thursday morning.

A brilliant all-round display from Georgia Voll has powered the Sydney Thunder to an impressive six-wicket win over the Renegades to open the new WBBL season.

Nathan Lyon knocked over South African captain Temba Bavuma with five minutes left in day three in a remarkable twist to put Australia on top in the deciding third Test in Cape Town.

The WBBL is back for the twelfth season of the marquee tournament, with the Hobart Hurricanes looking to defend their maiden title.

Matt Renshaw declared after Australia’s strongest batting performance on this South African tour that he is neither a doctor nor a curator. But he confirmed his status as Australia’s incumbent opener and clearly remains a very loyal mate.

The mystery neck problem that forced Steve Smith out of the Cape Town Test has been revealed as what Cricket Australia is calling a cervical facet joint injury.

The International Cricket Council reprimanded and fined Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf on Wednesday, while also fining England for a slow over rate during a tri-series match in Lahore.

• Keepers rebuild the innings to reach 330-4 at the close

• Green sparkles but Labuschagne duck must be the end

If Cape Town’s first day was a rollercoaster, the second was some more sedate form of transport, though it continued with ups and downs fitting its mountainous backdrop. Twice, South Africa produced double strikes to stall promising Australian positions; twice the Australians rebuilt. Finally, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey pushed Australia in front, 330 for four to South Africa’s all out 329, ready to surge on through day three with those six wickets left in hand.

While Travis Head was there, Australia’s first session threatened to match South Africa’s the day before, when Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman had piled on 140 against a bewildered attack. Head threw his hands at width, mixing luck with skill for seven boundaries. His new foil Matthew Renshaw showed contrasting temperament for the opening role, leaving and defending the new ball with the clarity he had shown in the middle order in Durban, underlining why he was the original candidate to replace Jake Weatherald at the top before the selectors’ brief and ill-fated Nic Maddinson excursion.

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Australia is in the lead at stumps on day two after a superb batting day in Cape Town where four of the visitors’ top six struck half-centuries.

Australia enjoyed a fruitful day with the bat as half-centuries from Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey put the tourists ahead of the game in the deciding third Test in Cape Town.