South Africa's bid to fight back in the decisive third Test against Australia was undermined by careless dismissals on day three in Cape Town.
Having taken the last six Australian wickets for 99 runs in the morning despite Josh Inglis' second Test century, the Proteas began their second innings facing a deficit of exactly 100. They needed runs from their experienced opener and number three. Neither Aiden Markram nor David Bedingham could deliver. By the end, even captain Temba Bavuma had been tempted into a wild swipe to fall for 35. South Africa were 140-4, just 40 runs ahead, at the close.
Markram's drive off Mitchell Starc straight into the hands of mid-off appeared the most egregious. The ball was the fullest of the six balls Markram faced but not there for him to play his trademark shot. Worse, though, was the dismissal of Bedingham, who showed he had not learned from the first innings. Then, the right-hander top-edged a pull to Josh Hazlewood off the bowling of Starc. This time he repeated the shot, with Hazlewood the wicket-taking bowler.
"That is just absolutely soft from David Bedingham," said former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander. "He knew they were going to target him in that zone. For the second time in the Test, he has fallen to the same ploy."
Australia are closing in on a series win, with South Africa's batting frailties exposing the gap between the teams.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing