A stunning bowling performance kept Australia in control against South Africa on day three of their first Test, claiming a 139-run lead early in the second innings.

South Africa were bowled out for 284 as Pat Cummins led the tourists' attack, leaving them 106 runs short at the end of the first innings.

Ryan Rickleton was dismissed for a duck late on day two, leaving South Africa 27-1, and they struggled to gain any real momentum when they resumed at the crease.

Aiden Markram (37), Temba Bavuma (3) and David Bedingham (49) all fell within 10 overs, with Cummins (3-54) halting the latter just before his half-century.

Wickets continued to tumble, though, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all taking two apiece as South Africa struggled to add to their tally.

Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer did combine for a 52-run stand before the former hit straight to cover in a tame dismissal.

Harmer (35 not out) and Anrich Nortje added a valuable 35 for the tenth wicket, but Steve Smith's fourth catch stopped the latter at 16.

Australia remain in control heading into day four, when Nic Maddinson (17 not out) and Travis Head (10 not out) will hope to add to their 33-0 and end the tourists' opening woes.

Stumps, Day 3! Play comes to an end due to bad light on Moving Day, with Australia on 33/0 after 5.4 overs, leading by 139 runs in the first Test.  We’ll be back tomorrow from 09:30, so be sure to catch all the action live on SuperSport and SABC 3! Tickets are still available at https://t.co/0JX6zZHS1C for the remainder of the Test match. #Unbreakable #SAvAUS

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 11, 2026

South Africa have no answers for co-ordinated Australian attack

While Australia's recent batting troubles have been put under the microscope, they proved they have more than enough in their team to take control of matches.

All four of their frontline bowlers took at least two wickets, and Smith backed them up with an impressive performance of his own.

He claimed four catches in total – on Bedingham, Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne and Nortje – which lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper (223).

It was another disappointing outing for South Africa, who have been frustrated over the course of all three days so far, and a top score of 49 from Bedingham did little to help things.

Australia's openers have already improved on their first-inning scores, with Maddinson in particular happy to put his 33-ball duck behind him, but the Proteas will be keen to get some early wickets when play resumes on Monday.