Mitchell Starc claimed his 20th five-wicket haul as South Africa slumped from 203-1 to 329 all out on day one of the decisive third and final Test against Australia at Newlands. Starc finished with 6-72, his best figures against South Africa in Tests.
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, and the hosts were 192-1 at drinks in the second session. Marques Ackerman had made a career-best 95 off 94 balls.
Ackerman and Markram Put South Africa in Control
Aiden Markram scored 78 and David Bedingham made 50 before the middle order fell apart. Markram had been dropped off Starc during the morning session, and he added 45 with Bedingham as South Africa reached 203-1.
Markram and Ackerman had already put on 140 by lunch. Australia had made four changes to their side, including dropping opener Nic Maddinson, and veteran Steve Smith was ruled out through injury.
Ackerman fell for 95 when he was stumped off Nathan Lyon. He had charged the off-spinner, and his innings included 12 fours and two sixes. He missed out on his maiden Test century.
Starc Leads the Collapse
Starc then took a stunning catch at square leg to dismiss Markram off Josh Hazlewood. Lyon bowled skipper Temba Bavuma for a three-ball duck, and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly claimed his maiden Test wicket by trapping Matthew Breetzke lbw for two.
Starc removed Bedingham after tea and had Wiaan Mulder caught behind two balls later for a duck. South Africa lost five wickets for just 29 runs.
Jansen and Rickelton Offer Resistance
Marco Jansen made 52, his second successive half-century, and Ryan Rickelton scored 42. The pair added 95 for the seventh wicket to stem the tide.
Starc returned with the second new ball and tore through the tail. He had Rickelton lbw in the 81st over, then bowled Jansen two balls later. He dismissed Gerald Coetzee for a golden duck and bowled Kagiso Rabada for another nought, taking four wickets in six balls. South Africa slipped from 327-6 to 329 all out.
The collapse handed momentum back to Australia. The tourists won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, before being thrashed in the second by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha. Day two of the deciding Test is on Wednesday.