South Africa were 4-140 at stumps on day three of the third Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town, with captain Temba Bavuma bowled by spinner Nathan Lyon off the day's last ball.
It is the third and final Test of Australia's tour of South Africa, being played at Newlands Cricket Ground from October 27 to 31, with the three-match series level at 1-1 heading into this decider. The wicket left South Africa with an effective lead of 40 runs and six second-innings wickets in hand. Chris De Silva wrote in an ABC live blog: "The Test is still not over, but it feels like it's Australia's to lose now."
Earlier in the day, opener Marques Ackermann was dismissed for 62 from 79 balls, caught by all-rounder Cameron Green off a bouncer from paceman Mitchell Starc that struck his helmet. Simon Smale wrote in the ABC live blog: "You have to look after the batter and that was a brutal bouncer."
South Africa reached 2-53 at the tea break on day three, trailing Australia's first-innings total by 47 runs, before Bavuma was bowled by Lyon for 35 from 115 balls with the last ball of the day. De Silva wrote in the live blog: "A proper session of Test cricket, that one."
Batters Ryan Rickelton, on 8 not out, and Matthew Breetzke, on 19 not out, were unbeaten at the close of play, with six South Africa wickets still to fall. Starc finished with 2-29 for the day's bowling, and paceman Josh Hazlewood took 1-37.
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss on day one of the match and chose to field first. South Africa were bowled out for 329 in their first innings, with Starc taking 6-72.
That first-innings total was built around a 158-run opening stand between Ackermann, who made 95, and fellow opener Aiden Markram, who scored 78.
Australia replied with 429 all out, a lead of 100 runs over South Africa's first innings heading into the second innings. Batter Josh Inglis scored a century and shared a 185-run stand for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Australia won the first Test of the series, in Durban, by 214 runs. South Africa hit back to win the second Test, in Gqeberha, by an innings and 31 runs, levelling the series at 1-1 and setting up the decider at Newlands.
This is Australia's first Test at Newlands Cricket Ground since 2018, when the ground was the scene of the Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal involving Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
Day four resumes on the evening of Friday, October 30, Melbourne time. The match is scheduled to run through to October 31, the final day of the series.