ESPNcricinfo reports that three wickets before lunch on day three, including two stunning Steve Smith slip catches, left South Africa 115 for 4, still 275 behind Australia's 390 in Durban.
ESPNcricinfo reported on Sunday 11 October 2026 that Australia seized control of the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, by taking three wickets in the morning session on day three. At lunch South Africa were 115 for 4, still 275 runs behind Australia's first-innings 390.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st Test, South Africa v Australia, Kingsmead, Durban, 9-13 October 2026 |
| Lunch score, day three | South Africa 115 for 4, with Tristan Stubbs 14* and Wiaan Mulder 7* |
| Deficit | 275 runs behind Australia's first-innings 390 |
| Aiden Markram | 37, edged Mitchell Starc to Matt Renshaw at first slip |
| Temba Bavuma | 3 off 27 balls, reverse-swept Nathan Lyon to Steve Smith at slip |
| David Bedingham | 49, edged Pat Cummins to a diving Smith at first slip |
| Pre-lunch drama | Mulder's dismissal off Lyon, caught at slip by Marnus Labuschagne, was overturned on review |
The morning collapse
South Africa resumed on 27 for 1, with Ryan Rickelton having fallen to Josh Hazlewood late on day two. Markram and Bedingham added 57 for the second wicket before Markram edged a drive off Starc to Renshaw at first slip, shortly before drinks.
Bavuma then ran out of patience after 27 balls for 3 and reverse-swept Lyon straight to Smith at slip. It was Lyon's first wicket of the three-Test series. Bedingham followed for 49, edging Cummins to Smith, who dived across first slip to take a stunning flying catch.
Smith's day
According to ESPNcricinfo, Smith's two slip catches lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper. Renshaw, who made a career-best 190 in Australia's first innings, also held the catch to remove Markram.
The Mulder reprieve
There was drama in the last over before lunch. Mulder appeared to be caught by Labuschagne at slip off Lyon, but the out decision was reversed on review after TV replays showed the ball had hit the ground before the catch. Stubbs and Mulder went in to lunch unbeaten.
- Australia: 390 in the first innings, built on Renshaw's 190 off 397 balls, with 43 from Cummins.
- South Africa's bowlers: Mulder took 4 for 68 and Marco Jansen 3 for 68 in that innings.
- Time lost: The first two days both ended early because of bad light, so extra time was added to all three of Sunday's sessions.
Read the full story on Cricinfo. Cricinfo.
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