South Africa vs Australia: Starc's 6-72 bowls Proteas out for 329

Mitchell Starc took six wickets for 72 runs to bowl South Africa out for 329 on the first day of the third and deciding Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. South Africa had been 158 without loss, built on a career-best 95 by opener Marques Ackerman and 78 by Aiden Markram, but lost all ten wickets for 171 runs. They were 325 for six before Starc, using the second new ball, took the last four wickets in the space of six deliveries. The series is level going into this final match.

This is a series decider. Australia and South Africa have won one Test each, South Africa's win coming by an innings in the second Test, so the result in Cape Town settles the series. For most of the first day the home side looked set for a total well beyond 400. Ackerman and Markram took full advantage of a flat pitch after Cummins had chosen to bowl, and an opening stand of 158 put Australia under pressure.

The match turned on Starc's spells. The left-arm fast bowler is at his most dangerous with a new ball, when it swings and moves off the seam, and the second new ball, available after 80 overs, gave him that chance late in the day. He removed the lower order with fast, full deliveries, including a yorker, a ball aimed at the batter's toes, to dismiss Jansen. The collapse of four wickets for four runs to end the innings undid much of the work of the top order.

Reports after the day differed on who held the edge. One account said Australia went into day two slightly ahead, while another described honours as even. What is clear is that Australia's batting, without Smith, now has to build a reply on the same pitch on which South Africa's openers scored freely. Lyon's two wickets also suggest spin will play a larger part as the pitch wears.

For Indian fans, the series is a measure of two sides India regularly meets in Test cricket. Starc's spell with the second new ball is the kind of threat India's batters also have to plan for when they face Australia.

Day one at a glance Item | Figure South Africa first innings | 329 all out Opening stand | 158 Top scorer | Marques Ackerman, 95 Best bowling | Mitchell Starc, 6 for 72 Last four wickets | fell for four runs

Short-term: Australia begin their first innings on day two needing a solid start to turn Starc's work into a lead. South Africa's bowlers, led by Jansen and the fast attack, will look to use the early movement.

Long-term: Winning the series gives either side ranking points and momentum for the rest of the Test season. For Australia, the result will also show how the batting copes without Smith.

Who is affected: Players and selectors of both teams, Test cricket fans in South Africa, Australia and India, and broadcasters following a high-profile series decider.

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