Cape Town:Mitchell Starc spearheaded an Australian resurgence on the first day of the crucial third Test at Newlands, as South Africa's initial dominance gave way to a more balanced contest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Starc's impressive figures of six for 72 were instrumental in bowling out South Africa for 329, just before the day's end. This comeback was crucial after South Africa's strong start, racing to 140 without loss by lunchtime, having been put in to bat first.
Despite a challenging morning where Starc was heavily punished, conceding 39 runs in seven overs, a tactical "reset at lunch" turned the tide in Australia's favor. The tall left-arm pacer and his teammates improved their performance significantly in the last two sessions, reflecting the high expectations within the team.
Marques Ackerman was a standout performer for South Africa, aggressively scoring 95 runs. His innings included a series of four consecutive boundaries off Starc and a powerful six against Nathan Lyon. However, Ackerman's attacking strategy eventually led to his stumping by Alex Carey, after an attempt to hit Lyon out of the ground post-lunch.
Ackerman later reflected that South Africa might have been content with their total of 329, though he acknowledged they could have amassed more runs. His recent domestic success, including a notable 256 against Bangladesh A, earned him a place in the Test side, and he adapted well to the unfamiliar role of opening batsman.