Australia Take 139-Run Lead Against South Africa

South Africa resumed the third day of the Test on 27/1. Mitchell Starc dismissed Aiden Markram in his first over after being hit for three fours by David Bedingham.

Cummins then dismissed Bedingham with an extra bounce delivery that nicked to Steve Smith at first slip. This followed Temba Bavuma's dismissal by Smith, who took a brilliant catch off Nathan Lyon's bowling while attempting a reverse sweep.

Cummins struck again, dismissing Wiaan Mulder in a bizarre manner. The batter misjudged a short ball which lobbed off his bat to Cooper Connolly at square leg. He then bounced out Tristan Stubbs with Josh Hazlewood taking the catch at deep square leg.

Smith took another brilliant catch off Lyon's bowling, dismissing Kyle Verreynne who was attempting a reverse sweep. Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer put up a stubborn 52-run stand for the ninth wicket, delaying Australia's victory march.

Starc ended Maharaj's resistance with a drive away from his body that was chipped straight to Cummins at mid-off. Anrich Nortje and Harmer then put up a final-wicket stand, but Webster ended it by dismissing Nortje.

This gave Australia a lead of 106 runs in the first innings. Cummins completed 50 Test wickets against South Africa. He ended with figures worth 3/54 from 15 overs. As per Cricinfo, Cummins became the ninth Aussie bowler with a half-century of Test wickets versus SA.

Across nine matches in this regard, Cummins has clocked an average of 18.29. This includes four five-wicket hauls. In six matches on South African soil, Cummins has bagged 32 scalps (5W: 2).