Stumps, Day 1! 🏟️

A flurry of wickets brings the day’s play to a close as #TheProteas are bowled out for 329 after 82.3 overs. 🇿🇦

We return tomorrow for Day 2, with play set to begin at 10:30am as Australia will come out to begin their first innings. 🏏#Unbreakable #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/2BgCEZ56FJ

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 27, 2026

With the three-match series tied at 1-1, the home team had a chance to clinch the series victory after their remarkable innings-and-31-run win in the second Test at St George’s Park. Australia secured the first match in Durban by 214 runs.

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl, but this decision seemed to backfire as Markram and Ackerman capitalized on the excellent batting conditions.

The duo formed a formidable opening partnership, reaching a remarkable 140 without loss at lunch. Ackerman impressed with a swift 82 not out, while Markram provided solid support with an unbeaten 56.

Ackerman maintained his aggressive stance after the break but narrowly missed out on his first Test century, getting stumped by Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon at 95. His wicket concluded a fantastic 158-run opening partnership.

Markram soon followed Ackerman, caught by Mitchell Starc off Josh Hazlewood for 78, and shortly after, Lyon dismissed captain Temba Bavuma without scoring.

Cooper Connolly then got rid of Matthew Breetzke for just two runs, placing South Africa under significant pressure after their impressive start. Australia continued to gain ground as Starc took the wickets of David Bedingham, who scored a vital 50, and Wiaan Mulder, who went for a duck.

The Proteas plummeted from a strong 203/2 to 232/6, with the momentum shifting towards Australia.

As South Africa faced the risk of being all out for a modest score, Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton formed a crucial counterattacking partnership.

The duo contributed 95 runs for the seventh wicket, helping the Proteas recover from 232/6 and exceed the 300-run threshold. Rickelton fought hard for his 42 runs while Jansen achieved an important half-century.

However, Starc made a decisive impact with the second new ball, claiming four wickets in just 11 deliveries, which dismantled the lower order. He ended the day with impressive figures of 6/72 as South Africa were all out for 329 on the first day.

The Proteas will draw optimism from their strong opening partnership and the recovery by Jansen and Rickelton. Still, the collapse of the middle order will raise concerns for the hosts, especially after they looked poised for a significantly larger total.

Starc’s late flurry ensured that Australia ended the day with the upper hand, setting up an exciting second day in the series decider at Newlands.