Australia finished Day 2 of the SA vs AUS 3rd Test in a commanding position at 330 for 4, taking a narrow one-run first-innings lead over South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. Josh Inglis and Alex Carey remained unbeaten on 85 and 51 respectively, combining for an unbroken 145-run partnership to put the visitors in control of the series decider.

Resuming their innings against South Africa&#39;s first-innings total of 329, Australia recovered from two early setbacks before Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green built a substantial partnership. Marco Jansen then removed both batters in quick succession, but Inglis and Carey steadied the innings with a counter-attacking display.

Australia made a positive start through Travis Head and Renshaw, who added 58 runs for the opening wicket. Head scored 41 before Simon Harmer bowled him, with the batter chopping the delivery onto his stumps. Harmer struck again five balls later, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for a duck as Aiden Markram took the catch at slip.

Renshaw and Green responded with a 126-run stand for the third wicket, both reaching half-centuries to rebuild Australia&#39;s innings. Renshaw scored 74 before Jansen trapped him leg-before-wicket, claiming his 100th Test wicket. The left-arm quick followed up by dismissing Green for 65 in the final over before tea, leaving Australia at 191 for 4.

Australia&#39;s position heading into Day 3 rests on the partnership between Inglis and Carey, with six wickets remaining and both batters set at the crease. South Africa will need early wickets to regain control, while Australia will look to extend its advantage when play resumes.

Fans can follow the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/watch/australia-tour-of-south-africa-2026-3rd-test-day-2/13419110">SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 highlights</a> on tapmad for the key moments from the series decider.

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 highlights: Unbeaten half-centuries from Josh Inglis and Alex Carey led Australia to 330/4, taking a lead at Newlands.

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 Highlights: Inglis & Carey Lead

CAPE TOWN: An unbroken, high-class 145-run partnership between wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis and Alex Carey steered Australia to a position of absolute authority, concluding SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 with a 1-run first-innings lead.

Responding to South Africa&rsquo;s first-innings total of 329, Australia&rsquo;s completely rejigged batting order, shorn of the veteran presence of Steve Smith, navigated a dramatic, multi-phased day of classic Test cricket to finish stumps at a commanding 330 for 4.

The morning session of SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 began with immediate fireworks. Openers Matt Renshaw and Travis Head laid a confident foundation, registering a fluid 58-run opening stand, their finest combination of this hard-fought three-match series. Head played aggressively for his 41 before an all-too-familiar lapse in concentration saw him chop an off-break from spinner Simon Harmer onto his own stumps.

Harmer, introduced as a tactical change, immediately extracted a sharp turn on the Newlands surface. Just five balls later, the veteran off-spinner sent shockwaves through the Australian camp by dismissing the out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne for a duck, caught expertly at slip by Aiden Markram.

At a precarious 58 for 2, Australia required a profound rebuilding job. Renshaw and the towering all-rounder Cameron Green provided precisely that, countering the Proteas&#39; spin threat with an authoritative 126-run partnership for the third wicket.&nbsp;

Both players compiled deeply disciplined half-centuries, absorbing intense atmospheric pressure on a warm, cloudless day.

However, just as the tourists looked poised to close out the afternoon session completely unscathed, left-arm speedster Marco Jansen dramatically flipped the narrative on its head with a devastating spell of old-ball reverse swing.&nbsp;

Two overs before Tea, Jansen produced a lethal inswinger that trapped Renshaw plumb leg-before-the-wicket for a stellar 74. The dismissal marked a historic career milestone, registering Renshaw as Jansen&#39;s 100th Test match scalp. In the last over of session 2, Jansen got the wicket of Green (65).&nbsp;

Left at a vulnerable 191 for 4 at the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-3rd-test-day-2-update-jansen-double-blow-limits-australia/8721-5-0">Tea interval</a>, the responsibility of the response fell entirely onto the shoulders of the incoming middle-order. Stepping up to the challenge with immense character, Josh Inglis (85*) and Alex Carey (51*) launched a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket.

The duo neutralised the reverse-swing threat and capitalised on a rapid outfield to comfortably keep the scoreboard ticking. With six wickets firmly in hand and the lead secured by the barest of margins, Australia holds the psychological ascendancy heading into Day 3 of this finely balanced series decider.

Josh Inglis and Alex Carey hit half-centuries in an unbroken 145-run stand, guiding Australia to 330/4 and a 1-run lead on SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2.

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2: Inglis & Carey Put AUS Ahead

CAPE TOWN: The decisive third Test between South Africa and Australia remains balanced on a knife-edge at Newlands, with the visitors reaching 191/4 at Tea on Day 2. A fascinating afternoon session saw Australia launch a spirited recovery before a dramatic late twist wrestled the momentum right back into the hands of the Proteas.

Heading into the afternoon session of SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2, Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 90/2, still trailing <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/south-africa-vs-australia-third-test-day-one-report/8707-5-0">South Africa&rsquo;s first-innings total</a> of 329 by 239 runs. With off-spinner Simon Harmer extracting a sharp turn and bounce to remove Travis Head (41) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) earlier in the morning, the Proteas smelled blood.

However, Renshaw and Green&#39;s half-centuries completely turned the tide during a resilient post-lunch exhibition. Matt Renshaw, grinding his way through a disciplined South African pace assault, anchored one end with pristine defensive technique. At the other end, the towering Cameron Green looked imperious, using his long stride to counter the spin of Harmer and punishing anything loose from the quicks.&nbsp;

Together, the duo stitched a magnificent 122-run partnership for the third wicket, systematically chipping away at the deficit and threatening to bat South Africa out of the session.

Just as Australia looked set to head into the tea interval unscathed and firmly in command, Jansen&#39;s comeback at the session&#39;s end turned the match on its head. The towering left-arm quick, who had bowled without much luck earlier in the day, produced a masterclass in reverse swing during a fiery spell right before the break.

Jansen first drew Green (65) into an expansive drive, finding a thick outside edge that was sharply taken in the slip cordon. Not content with breaking the stubborn partnership, Jansen struck again in his very next over. He trapped the well-set Renshaw (74) plumb in front of the stumps with a vicious inswinger that jagged back off the seam. The crucial breakthrough also marked a historic milestone for the young speedster, registering Renshaw as his 100th Test match wicket.

By the time the umpires called for Tea, Australia had slipped from a comfortable 184/2 to 191/4 in 53.4 overs, still trailing by 138 runs. With two fresh batsmen in Josh Inglis and Alex Carey tasked with rebuilding in the final session, the late double-blow from Jansen ensured that this thrilling series decider remains completely up for grabs.

Renshaw and Green's half-centuries led an Australian recovery before Jansen's late double-strike left Australia 191/4 at Tea on SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2.

SA vs AUS 3rd Test Day 2 Update: Jansen Double-Blow Limits Australia

Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the T20I series after beating Zimbabwe by 37 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai rescued the hosts with a quickfire 52, while Rashid Khan&#39;s late hitting helped push their total to 177.

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza put Afghanistan in to bat, and the hosts found themselves in trouble at 66/5 after 11.2 overs. However, Ahmadzai changed the course of the innings after coming in at No. 7, hitting four sixes and four fours to reach his half-century off just 22 balls.

Apart from him, Shahidullah also played an important role in the recovery, adding 46 from 42 deliveries. He and Ahmadzai put together 57 runs for the sixth wicket to steady the Afghan innings that once looked to crumble under 100 runs.

Rashid Khan then gave Afghanistan a final boost with an explosive knock of 30 runs. He struck four sixes and a four, as the hosts finished on 177 while batting first in Sharjah.

From the bowling perspective, Newman Nyamhuri remained the key performer for Zimbabwe by picking up four wickets for just 31 runs. Apart from him, Brad Evans and Ernest Masuku also performed well and picked up two wickets each in the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/afg-vs-zim-1st-t20i-ijazs-half-century-powers-afghanistan-to-177/8706-5-0">first innings</a>.

In the second innings, Zimbabwe struggled in the chase of 178 runs and were bowled out for 140 in 19.1 overs, handing Afghanistan a convincing win by 37 runs.

Ryan Burl tried to keep Zimbabwe in the hunt with 32 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes. Innocent Kaia scored 24, while Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza managed 17 runs apiece, but the rest of the batting order failed to make a big impact.

As far as Afghanistan are concerned, Fazalhaq Farooqi did most of the damage with the ball, finishing with 3/13 in just 3 overs. Apart from him, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai took two wickets each to dismantle the visitors for just 140 runs.

With this win, Afghanistan moved ahead 1-0 in the three-match T20I series. They will now face Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the same venue on October 29, which once again promises to be a tough contest.

Afghanistan secured a convincing victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I, as Ahmadzai’s quickfire fifty and Farooqi’s three-wicket haul gave the hosts a 1-0 series lead.

Ahmadzai Shines as Afghanistan Cruise Past Zimbabwe in First T20I

South Africa made a strong start in the third Test against Australia, with four batters scoring half-centuries on Tuesday. Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman and David Bedingham led the way with the bat, while Marco Jansen also made a valuable contribution to help the home side put up a challenging score at Newlands.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins chose to bowl after winning the toss, with the three-match series tied at 1-1. However, South Africa&#39;s opening pair made the visitors pay for that decision, adding 158 runs before the first wicket fell as Markram and Ackerman gave their side an excellent start.

Nathan Lyon finally broke South Africa&rsquo;s opening stand in the second session, stumping Ackerman to give Australia their first wicket. Ackerman had been the more attacking batter and narrowly missed out on a century, scoring 95 off 94 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes.

Markram and David Bedingham then added 45 runs for the second wicket before Josh Hazlewood dismissed the opener in the 45th over. Markram scored 78 off 141 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six during his stay at the crease.

Markram&rsquo;s wicket led to a sudden collapse in the South African middle order, with the hosts losing four more wickets in quick succession. As a result, South Africa were reduced to 232/6 early in the final session on the first day.

The Proteas were in trouble after losing back-to-back wickets, but Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton helped them fight back. The pair added 95 runs for the seventh wicket before Mitchell Starc broke the stand by dismissing both batters in the 81st over. Jansen struck seven fours in his 52 off 71 balls, while Rickelton faced 83 deliveries to score 42.

Starc then cleared the remaining batters to end South Africa&rsquo;s innings, dismissing Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada for ducks. He finished with six wickets for 72 runs in 16.3 overs, while Nathan Lyon took two wickets. Apart from them, Josh Hazlewood and Cooper Connolly also performed well and chipped in with one wicket each.

Australia will now come back tomorrow to start their innings, however, going past South Africa&rsquo;s big total of 329 won&rsquo;t be easy for them. The Proteas bowling attack is also in great touch, promising fans an action packed day two in Cape Town Test.

South Africa fought back to score 329 against Australia in the third Test, as Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets after the hosts lost several wickets in quick succession.

South Africa Refuse to Back Down Despite Starc’s Six-Wicket Haul in Cape Town

Steven Smith&rsquo;s place in Australia&rsquo;s final Test against South Africa remains uncertain as he continues to deal with a neck problem. Captain Pat Cummins has also hinted that Smith might not be completely fit for the series decider in Cape Town after the injury flared up in Gqeberha.

Australia have also decided to leave Nic Maddinson out of the Newlands Test. He will head home to join New South Wales for their next Sheffield Shield game, which starts on Friday. Smith, meanwhile, went through a fitness check at Australia&rsquo;s last training session before the match.

According to reports, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/steve-smith-injury-scare-raises-concerns-for-australia/8471-5-0">Steve Smith</a> spent 35 minutes batting in the nets at Newlands, trying out different shots. He was seen stretching his neck several times, even after he stopped batting and took a break. This suggests that the Australian ace batter is looking good with the bat, however, he is still far from being 100% fit.

&quot;I think he&#39;s been batting really well. In the first Test in that first innings I thought he looked in total control until he found the outside edge on one ball. From a team-mate looking from afar, he looks in total control of how he&#39;s going about his work.&rdquo; said Australia captain Pat Cummins.

&quot;So he&#39;s huge [for us]. One of the greatest batters we&#39;ve ever had. You don&#39;t play 100-odd Tests [without] playing matches where you&#39;re not 100% fit. Hopefully that&#39;s the case this week. He&#39;s probably not going to be 100%, but hopefully he can compartmentalize that like he&#39;s done many times before with other things and he can come out and contribute like he does every week.&quot; added Pat Cummins.

Cummins then applauded the performance of Smith, saying he is fully committed to the team and is working hard to get back to full fitness before the start of the next Test.

&quot;I&#39;d say, first of all, he&#39;s been awesome this tour. In the last couple of years, probably particularly the last 12 months, it feels like he&#39;s in a really good place and he&#39;s enjoying his cricket.&rdquo; said Pat Cummins.

&quot;That knock [on the helmet] in the first Test, I think it knocked him around for a couple of hours, but then straight away the next morning he was back to his normal self and out there. I don&#39;t really want to speak for him because probably only he can answer, but from all my conversations, he&#39;s been great. He&#39;s been super invested in what&#39;s going on and very helpful for me out there in the middle.&quot; added Pat Cummins.

Steve Smith faces a fitness concern ahead of Australia’s final Test against South Africa, as he continues to struggle with a neck injury.

Steve Smith Undergoes Fitness Check Before South Africa Series Finale

Nortje ruled out of 3rd Test selection after suffering a mild groin injury, South Africa must decide how to reshape their bowling attack for the series decider against Australia in Cape Town. Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson are the main pace options, while Senuran Muthusamy could be considered if the hosts opt for spin.

The series is level at 1-1, and South Africa are expected to retain their batting line-up from the second Test in Gqeberha. Coetzee has not played a Test in nearly two years, Bosch offers an all-round option, and Paterson is another candidate for the final match. All three have remained with the squad throughout the series.

<h2>Nortje&#39;s Return Cut Short</h2>

Nortje&#39;s latest injury came after he returned to Test cricket for the first time in more than three-and-a-half years. He bowled 40 overs and claimed four wickets in the opening Test in Durban before being selected again for the match at St George&#39;s Park.

The fast bowler left the field during his fourth over on the fourth morning of the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-rabada-4-for-severs-aussie-guard-in-2nd-innings/8627-5-0">second Test</a> and did not return. Captain Temba Bavuma later acknowledged that selecting Nortje for the match had been a &quot;risk&quot;, given his history of injuries and lengthy spells out of the side.

Although Nortje will miss the Cape Town Test, the injury is understood to be less serious than initially feared. South Africa have yet to confirm his recovery timeline or announce a replacement

<h2>South Africa Monitor Wider Injury List</h2>

The team are also tracking the progress of several injured players ahead of the upcoming international summer. Lungi Ngidi, who sustained a hamstring injury during the opening round of domestic first-class cricket, is expected to return next month and could be available for the Bangladesh series.

Ottneil Baartman has resumed playing for the Dolphins in the Pro20 competition and took four wickets for 12 runs on Friday. He had injured his hamstring during the domestic season opener.

There is no confirmed update on left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka or batter Tony de Zorzi, who injured his hamstring during the third ODI against Australia last month.

Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of 3rd Test against Australia with a groin injury, forcing South Africa to reshape their pace attack for the Cape Town decider.

Nortje Ruled Out of 3rd Test as SA Weigh Options

Simon Harmer played a key role for South Africa in winning the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-rabada-4-for-severs-aussie-guard-in-2nd-innings/8627-5-0">second Test</a> in Gqeberha. Apart from spin bowling, his batting in the first innings was exceptional due to which the Proteas managed to put up a big score on the board.

With this victory, Harmer is now looking to put Australia under more pressure in Cape Town, where the series will ultimately be decided. He said the Proteas had shown strong character after being beaten in Durban, which will help them play with more confidence against Australia in the third Test.

&quot;To be 1-0 down and to be able to turn it around and then to be 40 for 4 and be able to turn that pressure and put it on them and then to realize that actually, they are human and if we bowl well and put them under pressure, there is the possibility that we can get on top of them, was really nice to see,&quot; said Simon Harmer.

&quot;Durban was a tough few days for us with our backs against the wall and there was nowhere to go. It was nice for us to turn it around and to be able to put them under pressure.&quot; added Simon Harmer.

Harmer then spoke about the batting failure in Durban, saying that everyone in the team knew they hadn&rsquo;t played well enough to meet the demands of the situation.

&quot;If you look at the dismissals, it was quite evident there weren&#39;t a lot of good balls that got us out but we managed to find ways to get out,&quot; said Simon Harmer.

&quot;And the most frustrating thing in Durban was knowing that there were a couple of guys that had come either back into the Test team or out of position, and we weren&#39;t able to exploit that,&quot; added Simon Harmer.

Harmer then revealed the motivation of the team, saying they came into the second Test with an aim to bounce back and show strong character in tough moments.

&quot;There was a lot of motivation and fire burning in the belly of a lot of the boys that we didn&#39;t put our best foot forward and that we didn&#39;t lose on our terms in Durban,&quot; said Simon Harmer.

&quot;The character that Marco showed in that first innings, both with bat and ball, and KG today and Wiaan everybody stepped up. When the team really needed somebody to break it open, they were able to do that. We&#39;ll take a lot from this win and a really good feeling to go into Cape Town 1-1.&quot; added Simon Harmer.

Simon Harmer backs South Africa to secure a series win against Australia after their Gqeberha Test victory, with the final match set to take place in Cape Town.

Simon Harmer Backs South Africa to Seal Series After Gqeberha Test Win

South Africa were under pressure heading into the second Test, as Australia were looking to seal the series after winning the Durban Test. They also got off to a rocky start in the first innings, but then skipper Temba Bavuma came to their rescue and played a stunning knock that will be remembered for years.

Despite being challenged by Australia&rsquo;s top pacers on a green wicket, Bavuma produced an innings that got South Africa back into the contest. He scored 179 off 334 balls, helping the Proteas post a gigantic total of 425 in the first innings.

When Australia came out to bat, they looked uncomfortable from the start. As a result, they were bowled out for just 99 in the first innings, with Marco Jansen remaining the star for South Africa by picking up five wickets.

Trailing by 326 runs, Australia were then sent in to bat again as the Proteas enforced the follow-on. The visitors then produced an improved batting performance in the second innings. However, the brilliance of Kagiso Rabada proved too hot to handle for them. Despite Travis Head&rsquo;s brilliant century, they managed to score just 295 in the second innings, as Rabada picked up a four-wicket haul to seal a thumping <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-rabada-4-for-severs-aussie-guard-in-2nd-innings/8627-5-0">victory</a> for the Proteas.

With this win, South Africa have also leveled the series, making the third Test at Cape Town the ultimate decider. They were certainly under fire after losing the first Test, as fans didn&rsquo;t expect Australia to take a lead in the series. Now, they have silenced all the critics, showing why they are still the top-ranked Test side in the world.

<h2>Watch Australia vs South Africa Second Test Highlights on tapmad</h2>

The second Test between Australia vs South Africa remained highly competitive throughout the five days in Gqeberha. If you missed the live action of this game, head over to the tapmad&rsquo;s highlights section now and watch a full recap of the match to understand how South Africa produced a performance that brought them back into the series.

South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at Gqeberha. Read this article to know about the highlights and summary of this match.

Australia vs South Africa Second Test Match Summary and Highlights

GQEBERHA: A ruthless South African bowling unit broke through a stubborn Australian rearguard on the final evening at St George&#39;s Park to secure a monumental victory.&nbsp;

In a spectacular turnaround after their opening defeat in Durban, South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs on Day 5, successfully levelling the high-stakes three-match series 1-1.

<h2>Proteas Rebound in Style</h2>

Entering the SA vs AUS 2nd Test under immense pressure, skipper Temba Bavuma marshalled a definitive response. After battling back from a precarious first-innings position of 110/6, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-day-3-bavumas-179-defies-boland-five/8591-5-0">Bavuma&rsquo;s career-best 179</a> anchored a formidable first-innings total of 425/9 declared.

The total proved overwhelming for the touring side. Leveraging low bounce and skiddy seam movement, the Proteas fast-bowling unit completely dismantled Australia for a paltry 99 runs in their initial response. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-day-4-australia-bowled-out-for-99/8604-5-0">Marco Jansen&rsquo;s 5/33</a> forced the follow-on.

<h2>Head and Boland Lead Resilient Fightback</h2>

Faced with a massive 326-run deficit, Australia displayed far greater steel in their secondary effort. Despite losing their morning session entirely to persistent rain, the visitors threatened to pull off an improbable draw.

Travis Head led the counter-offensive from the front. Navigating an aggressive home attack, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-vs-aus-2nd-test-day-5-proteas-near-win-despite-heads-century/8625-5-0">Head&rsquo;s fighting century</a> held the middle-order together. When Head eventually fell, Australia&#39;s nightwatchman Scott Boland spearheaded a defensive masterclass.&nbsp;

Boland defied the South African attack for 166 deliveries, registering a heroic 40 runs to push the game deep into the final session.

<h2>Rabada Breaks Australian Resistance</h2>

As the afternoon shadows lengthened and the threat of fading light loomed over Gqeberha, the Proteas needed inspiration. Up stepped their premier fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada. Generating exceptional reverse swing and relentless hostility, Rabada systematically dismantled the lower-order partnerships.

Rabada&#39;s brilliant spell yielded a game-changing 4 wickets in the 2nd innings, concluding the innings with match-winning figures of 4/77. He consistently hit a hard length, breaking Australia&#39;s key structural resistance just as the visitors looked capable of batting out the day.&nbsp;

Wiaan Mulder clean-bowled the stubborn Boland, and Jansen sealed the dramatic victory by forcing a thin edge from Josh Hazlewood into the keeper&#39;s gloves. Australia were bowled out for 295, sparking wild celebrations on the field.

<h2>Heading to a Newlands Decider</h2>

With the heavy deficit overturned in clinical fashion, South Africa completely re-energized their home summer campaign. The comprehensive victory vindicated Bavuma&rsquo;s bold decision to enforce the follow-on, ensuring his bowlers had just enough time to beat both the weather and the clock.

The teams will now head to the iconic Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town for a highly anticipated, winner-takes-all third Test starting on October 27, 2026. With both heavyweights trading dominant blows, cricket fans are set for an unforgettable series decider.

Kagiso Rabada took 4 wickets in 2nd innings as South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs in the SA vs AUS 2nd Test to level the series.

SA vs AUS 2nd Test: Rabada 4-For Severs Aussie Guard in 2nd Innings

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