Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Australia Seize Control as South Africa Lose Early Wickets
Australia scored 390 runs in their first turn batting.
South Africa were trying to catch up on the third day of the Test.
By lunchtime, they had scored 115 runs and lost four wickets.
That left them 275 runs behind Australia.
Markram, Bavuma and Bedingham were out during the morning.
Smith caught two of them, and three Australian bowlers took a wicket each.
Stubbs and Mulder were still batting at lunch.
One possible catch of Mulder was not given after video showed the ball had touched the ground first.
Australia therefore had the stronger position at that point.
South Africa were 115 for four at lunch on day three, still 275 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total of 390.
Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham were dismissed during the morning session.
Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins took one wicket each, while Steve Smith held two catches.
Tristan Stubbs was 14 not out and Wiaan Mulder was seven not out at the interval.
An apparent Lyon dismissal of Mulder was overturned after television review showed the ball had hit the ground.
- Who
- Australia and South Africa, in the first Test.
- What
- Australia took three wickets before lunch, leaving South Africa at 115 for four and 275 runs behind.
- When
- Sunday, day three of the Test; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Where
- Kingsmead, Durban.
- Why
- South Africa lost three batters to loose strokes while trying to respond to Australia's first-innings total of 390.
- Match
- First Test between South Africa and Australia
- Venue
- Kingsmead, Durban
- Day-three lunch score
- South Africa 115/4
- Australia first innings
- 390
- Run deficit
- 275
- Dismissed in the morning
- Aiden Markram (37), Temba Bavuma (3), David Bedingham (49)
- Not out at lunch
- Tristan Stubbs (14), Wiaan Mulder (7)
- Weather impact
- The first two days ended early because of bad light; extra time was added to Sunday's sessions.