Third Test Match Details
- Match Standing: South Africa 329 & 140-4, Australia 429
- Key Performances: Ackerman 62 (SA), Josh Inglis 102 (AUS)
- Bowling Figures: Starc 2-29 (AUS), Harmer 4-104 (SA)
- Current Status: South Africa lead by 40 runs
South Africa’s bid to claim a series-defining win in the third Test against Australia was severely hindered by a series of reckless batting displays during the third day in Cape Town. While the hosts successfully cleaned up the final six Australian wickets for 99 runs earlier in the morning—notwithstanding a brilliant second Test century from Josh Inglis—they failed to capitalize on the opportunity in their second innings, entering with a 100-run deficit. The winner of the third Test will finish the series top of the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings.
The Proteas struggled as their key top-order players failed to deliver. Opener Aiden Markram and number three David Bedingham were unable to establish themselves, leaving the side in a precarious position. By the close of play, South Africa reached 140-4, holding a slim lead of just 40 runs, even as captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed after being baited into a wild swing to fall for 35.
Markram’s departure proved particularly costly, as he drove a delivery from Mitchell Starc straight into the hands of Travis Head at mid-off for only one run.
The ball was arguably not full enough to warrant such an expansive shot.
However, the dismissal of Bedingham for 11 was widely criticized as repeating a previous error. After top-edging a pull shot to Josh Hazlewood in the first innings, he fell to the exact same trap when Hazlewood bowled him again. When, after starting with two balls on a good length, Hazlewood went short again, Bedingham’s eyes lit up.
Former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander described the dismissal as absolutely soft. He noted that Bedingham was clearly being targeted in that zone, yet fell to the same ploy for the second time in the Test. Bedingham’s recent form had been promising, following successful stints with Durham and strong performances for Western Province in September, but he has failed to convert those starts into significant, match-winning contributions in this series. Given the prized position in South Africa’s batting order on the back of strong domestic form for Durham in the County Championship and twin hundreds for Western Province in September, this score of 11 followed contributions of 49, 46 and 50 in his other four innings. Some would say that is more infuriating than not getting in at all, batting in the key position of first drop. You think about best pullers in the game they have a strong base.
The technical flaws in Bedingham’s game were highlighted by former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who observed that the batter often looks unbalanced while attempting the pull or hook shot.
With this being the fifth time he has been dismissed while playing that shot in 18 Tests—occurring on average once every 13 deliveries—critics suggest he needs to re-evaluate his approach. Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and co should have been taking note.
Smith pointed to the example of Hashim Amla, who managed to put the pull shot away for specific phases of his career, as a model for how Bedingham might adjust his strategy to survive in key positions.
Important Details
- Batters carelessly gifting wickets to Australia… we have been here before.
- Although they will have taken note with a tour of South Africa to come this winter, this time it was not England helping their opponents.
