Starc six-wicket haul sparks Australia fightback as South Africa collapse on Day 1

Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets as Australia fought back from a disastrous start to bowl South Africa out for 329 on the opening day of the decisive third Test at Newlands on Tuesday.SA vs AUS, 3rd Test: Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul sparks Australia fightback (AP Photo)New Delhi,Oct 27, 2026 22:46 ISTBrief Scores: South Africa 329 (Ackerman 95, Markram 78, Jansen 52, Starc 6-72, Lyon 2-71) vs Australia at stumps on Day 1Mitchell Starc turned the tide with a superb six-wicket haul as Australia fought back to bowl South Africa out for 329 on the opening day of the decisive third Test at Newlands on Tuesday. The hosts were cruising at 158 without loss before a middle-order collapse and a late burst from Starc undid their hard work.Marques Ackerman led the charge with a career-best 95 off 94 balls, while Aiden Markram scored 78 in an opening partnership that exposed Australia's struggles with the new ball. Captain Pat Cummins' decision to bowl first looked questionable as the pair attacked under sunny skies, taking South Africa to 140 without loss at lunch.South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Day 1: Highlights Ackerman was particularly aggressive against Starc, striking four consecutive boundaries before the interval. Markram looked equally comfortable, while Travis Head's dropped catch of the opener on 39 added to Australia's frustration.The breakthrough came after lunch when Ackerman charged Nathan Lyon and was stumped by Alex Carey, falling five runs short of a maiden Test century. Markram followed for 78, mistiming a pull shot against Josh Hazlewood that Starc caught at long leg. South Africa's slide gathered pace as Lyon bowled captain Temba Bavuma for a duck and Cooper Connolly claimed his maiden Test wicket, trapping Matthew Breetzke lbw for two after a successful review.STARC LEADS THE FIGHTBACKAustralia's short-ball plan paid off after tea. David Bedingham, who had scored 50, top-edged a pull shot to Hazlewood near the fine-leg boundary. Three balls later, Wiaan Mulder gloved another short delivery to Carey.The double strike left South Africa five down for 187, having lost five wickets for 29 runs after their opening stand. The hosts needed a partnership to rebuild their innings, and Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton provided one.The pair added 95 for the seventh wicket, taking South Africa past 300. Jansen brought up his second successive Test half-century after scoring 85 in Gqeberha, while Rickelton made 42 to keep the innings moving.However, the second new ball proved decisive. Starc removed both batters in the same over with full deliveries before bowling Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada to wrap up the innings before close. He finished with 6 for 72 from 16.3 overs, while Lyon took 2 for 71."We probably expected more out of the wicket. It was not our best start and South Africa took advantage," Starc said after play."The wicket was quite slow, with a tennis-ball type bounce. We had to reassess at lunch, problem-solve and find a way to be effective. The last two sessions went well for us."Starc admitted Australia had feared spending much longer in the field. "At one point, we thought we would have to bowl a fair bit tomorrow, so to get them out today is good," he said.The series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. The winner in Cape Town will claim the series and take the number one spot in the Test rankings, currently held by Australia.Australia will begin their reply on Wednesday after Starc's late burst gave them a chance to seize control of the decider.- Ends