Late Bavuma wicket leaves South Africa just 40 ahead in deciding Test

Australia moved into a strong position in the deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, with the hosts finishing day three on 140-4, a lead of just 40 runs. BBC Sport's Matthew Henry reported that a late wicket for Nathan Lyon removed captain Temba Bavuma and left South Africa with more rebuilding to do after erasing a 100-run first-innings deficit.

Watch the highlights:

South Africa had made progress earlier in the day by taking Australia's final six wickets for 99 runs. The tourists were dismissed for 429 in reply to 329, with Josh Inglis contributing 102 for his second Test century and Alex Carey making 80. Spinner Simon Harmer finished with 4-104, dismissing both Inglis and Carey as South Africa limited the size of Australia's advantage before beginning their second innings.

That recovery was undermined by the early losses of Aiden Markram and David Bedingham. Markram scored one before driving Mitchell Starc to Travis Head at mid-off. Bedingham made 11 and fell attempting a pull against Josh Hazlewood, repeating the type of dismissal that had ended his first innings. The BBC report noted that Starc had struck Bedingham in the chest with a short ball before Hazlewood dismissed him.

Opener Marques Ackerman also fell to a short delivery from Starc, who ended the day with figures of 2-29. Bavuma offered a more sustained response, facing 115 balls and hitting only one boundary in his 35. His partnership with Matthew Breetzke lasted 17.3 overs, helping South Africa move beyond Australia's total after the earlier wickets had put pressure on the batting order.

Bavuma's resistance ended with four minutes remaining in the day's play. According to Henry's account, Australia captain Pat Cummins brought in a silly point while Lyon was bowling. Bavuma then came out of his crease and attempted to force the ball through mid-wicket, losing his wicket shortly before stumps. The dismissal denied South Africa the chance to resume with their captain still alongside Breetzke.

Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton were the unbeaten batters, with Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen still to come. South Africa retained six wickets with which to extend their narrow lead. Harmer's earlier wickets and the turn found by Lyon showed the continuing role of spin, but Australia had not yet been set a final target and the deciding Test remained unresolved.