TEST

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 1: Starc 6/72, South Africa 329 All Out

Published on October 27, 2026

Summary Overview: Mitchell Starc took 6 for 72 as South Africa were bowled out for 329 on Day 1 of the series-deciding 3rd Test at Newlands. Marques Ackerman made 95 and Aiden Markram 78, but South Africa lost their last four wickets for 2 runs.

What happened? South Africa were bowled out for 329 in 82.3 overs on Day 1 at Newlands, Cape Town. Australia did not bat before stumps.

Who starred? Mitchell Starc took 6 for 72, including the last four wickets for 2 runs. For South Africa, Marques Ackerman made 95 and Aiden Markram 78.

Who is winning? It is finely balanced. South Africa were 203 for 1 at one stage and should have made more, but 329 is still a competitive first-innings total.

What's at stake? The series is level at 1-1, so whoever wins this Test wins the series.

The Story: A Day of Two Halves

Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl, and for most of the first two sessions it looked like a mistake.

For readers new to Test cricket: a Test match lasts up to five days, and each team bats twice. A team that is "all out" has lost ten wickets. A six-wicket haul (six or more wickets in an innings) is a rare and outstanding achievement for a bowler.

South Africa's Strong Start

Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman put on 158 for the first wicket, the foundation of a big total. Ackerman was in brilliant attacking form, hitting 12 fours and two sixes, but just as a century came into view, Nathan Lyon, recalled for this Test, had him stumped by Alex Carey for 95 off 94 balls.

Markram and David Bedingham took South Africa to 203 for 1 before Josh Hazlewood finally removed Markram for 78.

Five Wickets for 29 Runs

Then Australia struck back hard. Lyon bowled captain Temba Bavuma for a third-ball duck, only days after his match-winning 179 in Gqeberha. Cooper Connolly trapped Matthew Breetzke lbw, and Starc removed Bedingham for 50 and then Wiaan Mulder for 0 two balls later.

South Africa had collapsed from 203 for 1 to 232 for 6.

Rickelton and Jansen Rebuild, Then Starc Finishes It

Ryan Rickelton (42) and Marco Jansen (52) steadied the innings with a patient stand of 95, taking South Africa to 327 for 6 in the 81st over.

Starc then produced a devastating spell. He trapped Rickelton lbw, bowled Jansen, bowled Gerald Coetzee first ball and trapped Kagiso Rabada lbw. South Africa lost their last four wickets for 2 runs in just 12 balls, and Starc finished with 6 for 72.

Turning Point: Lyon's Double

At 158 for 0, South Africa were in total control. Lyon's stumping of Ackerman opened the door, and his dismissal of Bavuma, the hero of the second Test, for a duck sparked the collapse. Starc did the rest.

Stat Corner

Top Performers (Day 1)

Player	Team	Performance
Mitchell Starc	Australia	6 for 72 (16.3 overs)
Nathan Lyon	Australia	2 for 71 (23 overs)
Josh Hazlewood	Australia	1 for 59 (15 overs, 3 maidens)
Marques Ackerman	South Africa	95 (94), 12 fours, 2 sixes
Aiden Markram	South Africa	78 (141), 10 fours, 1 six
Marco Jansen	South Africa	52 (71), 7 fours
David Bedingham	South Africa	50 (80), 7 fours
Ryan Rickelton (wk)	South Africa	42 (83)

How the Day Turned

Moment	Score
Markram and Ackerman stand	158 for the 1st wicket
South Africa in control	203 for 1 (44.3 overs)
Five wickets for 29 runs	203 for 1 to 232 for 6
Rickelton and Jansen stand	95 for the 7th wicket
Four wickets for 2 runs	327 for 6 to 329 all out
South Africa all out	329 (82.3 overs)

Starc's Six Wickets

Wicket	Batter	How out	Score
1	David Bedingham	c Hazlewood	232 for 5
2	Wiaan Mulder	c Carey	232 for 6
3	Ryan Rickelton	lbw	327 for 7
4	Marco Jansen	bowled	328 for 8
5	Gerald Coetzee	bowled (first ball)	329 for 9
6	Kagiso Rabada	lbw	329 all out

Playing XIs

Team	Playing XI
South Africa	Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada
Australia	Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Changes: South Africa brought in Gerald Coetzee for Anrich Nortje. Australia made four changes after their innings defeat in Gqeberha: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon replaced Nic Maddinson, Steven Smith, Beau Webster and Scott Boland.

Bench: South Africa: Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kyle Verreynne. Australia: Beau Webster, Scott Boland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Michael Neser.

Series So Far

Match	Venue	Result
1st Test	Kingsmead, Durban	Australia won by 214 runs
2nd Test	St George's Park, Gqeberha	South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs
3rd Test	Newlands, Cape Town	In progress (Day 1 of 5)

Series score: South Africa 1, Australia 1.

Day 2: What to Watch

Day	Date	Local (SAST)	IST	Pakistan	UK	ET	Australia (AEDT)
Day 2	Wed, Oct 28	10:30 AM	2:00 PM	1:30 PM	8:30 AM	4:30 AM	7:30 PM

Local time is South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). UK times are GMT. ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). AEDT is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11). Day 1 started at 10:30 AM local time.

Australia start their reply on Day 2 with a reshaped batting order and no Steven Smith. Travis Head, who made a century in the second innings at Gqeberha, and Matt Renshaw will open against Rabada, Jansen and Coetzee, with Simon Harmer's off-spin likely to play a bigger part as the Newlands pitch wears.