Careless dismissals give Australia route to series win in South Africa

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The winner of the third Test will finish the series top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankingsByMatthew HenryBBC Sport journalistThird Test, Cape Town (day three of five)South Africa 329 & 140-4: Ackerman 62; Starc 2-29Australia 429: Inglis 102; Harmer 4-104South Africa lead by 40 runsScorecardBatters carelessly gifting wickets to Australia... we have been here before.This time it was not England helping their opponents, although they will have taken note with a tour of South Africa to come this winter.South Africa's attempt to fight back in the decisive third Test against Australia was hurt by two poor strokes on day three.Having taken the last six Australian wickets for 99 runs in the morning despite Josh Inglis' second Test century, the Proteas began their second innings facing a deficit of exactly 100.They needed runs from their experienced opener and number three. Neither Aiden Markram nor David Bedingham could deliver.By the end, even captain Temba Bavuma had been tempted into a wild swipe to fall for 35. South Africa were 140-4, just 40 runs ahead, at the close.Australia are closing in.Weakness exposed by AustraliaIn isolation, Markram's drive off Mitchell Starc straight into the hands of mid-off for one appeared the most egregious.The ball was the fullest of the six balls Markram faced but not there for him to play his trademark shot. Fielder Travis Head did not have to move.Worse, though, was the dismissal of Bedingham, who showed he had not learned from the first innings.Then, the right-hander top-edged a pull to Josh Hazlewood off the bowling of Starc. This time he repeated the shot, with Hazlewood the wicket-taking bowler."That is just absolutely soft from David Bedingham," said former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander."He knew they were going to target him in that zone. For the second time in the Test, he has fallen to the same ploy."Image source, CricVizImage caption, The delivery which dismissed Markram was the fullest he had faced but still not full enough to be a driving length Given the prized position in South Africa's batting order on the back of strong domestic form for Durham in the County Championship and twin hundreds for Western Province in September, this score of 11 followed contributions of 49, 46 and 50 in his other four innings.He has got in but has not made a match-winning contribution.Batting in the key position of first drop, some would say that is more infuriating than not getting in at all.His dismissal, again like in the first innings, came shortly after being hit by a bouncer, with Starc clattering one into his chest on this occasion.When, after starting with two balls on a good length, Hazlewood went short again, Bedingham's eyes lit up.Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and co should have been taking note. It was the fifth time he has been dismissed pulling in his 18 Tests. On average he gets out playing that shot once every 13 deliveries. "He never looks in the right position to play the pull or hook shot," former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said. "He is always off balance. He is never in a strong position."You think about best pullers in the game they have a strong base. He is pirouetting on one leg."[South Africa great] Hashim Amla just put the pull shot away for a phase."That is what a player like Bedingham needs to think about."Cummins tweak brings Bavuma wicketBavuma, in contrast, dug in for 115 balls in which he hit only one boundary.As he had in his 179 in the second-Test win in Gqeberha which set up this grand Cape Town finale, he showed his side the way in a partnership lasting 17.3 overs with Matthew Breetzke after opener Marques Ackerman had briskly made 65 before being bounced out by Starc.But with four minutes to go in the day, Australia captain Pat Cummins tweaked his field for spinner Nathan Lyon.Bavuma had pushed and driven outside off stump to that point but, with a silly point now in place, he was dragged from his crease and tried to force through mid-wicket.Australia's celebrations suggested they believe that was the crucial wicket.The vicious turn Lyon found means any chase over 200 would not be straightforward for Australia. South Africa's spinner Simon Harmer dismissed Inglis and Alex Carey (80) earlier in the day on his way to figures of 4-104.The Proteas have Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton at the crease - and Test triple-centurion Wiaan Mulder to come, before in-form all-rounder Marco Jansen and the tail.This still appears a tall order, however.As on day one and two, Australia have held firm and their opponents faltered. England know that feeling too.More on this story