SA vs AUS 3rd Test Live Commentary - Cape Town (27 October 2026)

On a length and on off, Aiden Markram pushes it to short cover.

Goes a bit fuller and around off, Aiden Markram takes a big stride out and drives it through covers for a single.

Good length and on off, Marques Ackerman gets behind the line and taps it in front of cover-point for a quick run.

Pitched-up delivery, on off, Aiden Markram knocks it with a straight bat to mid off.

Full again and on off, angling in, Aiden Markram is solid in his defense.

EDGED AND FOUR! Pat Cummins pulls his length back a bit, around off, and keeps it to hold its line. Aiden Markram pushes at it with hard hands and away from his body. Gets an outside edge that flies between second slip and gully for a boundary. Pretty much sums up the session for Australia. THAT WILL BE LUNCH ON DAY 1!

Floated, short and on middle, Aiden Markram pats it towards mid on.

Short again, on middle, Aiden Markram stays back and turns it past short leg.

FOUR! Short and punished! Lyon drags his length back and just outside off. Aiden Markram rocks back quickly and punches it with sweet timing through covers for a boundary. The runs keep on flowing here in Cape Town.

Slightly quicker, shortish and on off, Aiden Markram stabs it to the left of the bowler.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR MARKRAM! A fantastic knock, and he brings up the milestone with another top shot. This is another short delivery, around off. Aiden Markram moves back and slaps it through extra covers with excellent timing. Cooper Connolly in the deep runs to his right and dives but fails to stop the boundary. Markram waves to his family in the stands to celebrate the moment.

Fires this one, full and on middle, Aiden Markram bunts it out to long on for one.

FOUR! Cracking shot! Short of a length and way outside off. Marques Ackerman gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it wide of the backward point fielder for a boundary.

FOUR MORE! Not many can do that to Mitchell Starc! Fuller delivery, on middle, angling in just a bit. Marques Ackerman picks it up, brings his wrists into play and whips it effortlessly over mid-wicket for another boundary.

FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Starc lands this back of a length and on off. Marques Ackerman bends his back to sway away, lets the ball come to him and opens the bat face at the last moment. He uses the pace on the ball to steer it between the slip cordon and gully for four more runs.

FOUR! Make that four in a row! Mitchell Starc goes short and wide outside off again, touching 148 clicks. Marques Ackerman once again makes pace his friend and flays it over gully for the fourth boundary of the over.

Much fuller and on off, angling in, Marques Ackerman just taps it to the off side for a quick single.

Good length and around middle, Aiden Markram nudges it through square leg for one. 18 runs off the over!

Flatter, short and around leg, Aiden Markram misses his flick as the ball goes off his thigh pad towards short fine. A leg bye taken.

Tossed up, full and on ff, Marques Ackerman uses his feet, reaches out and taps it to the right of short cover for a quick single.

Drops it a bit short, on middle, Aiden Markram stays back and pats it back to the bowler.

Flatter delivery, full and on middle, Aiden Markram clips it through mid-wicket for a run.

Dragged back, on middle and leg, Marques Ackerman moves back and nudges it wide of mid on for another run.

Floated at 87.6 kph, short and turning into the middle. Aiden Markram hangs back and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

On a length and around off, Aiden Markram gets half-forward and pushes it to short cover.

Wrong line as Starc serves this back of a length and down the leg side. Aiden Markram fails to glance it away.

Hard length and on middle, Aiden Markram stays back and keeps it out to the leg side.

DROPPED! Nothing seems to be going right for Australia! Mitchell Starc lands this short of a length and just around off. Aiden Markram looks to punch it away but miscues it as the ball lobs towards short cover. Travis Head tries to grab it with both hands above his head, but the ball comes slower than he expects and he shells it. Starc cannot believe it and just turns around to walk to his bowling mark. That could prove to be a costly drop for the Aussies.

Good length and around leg, Aiden Markram clips it through square leg for one.

Touch fuller and on middle, Marques Ackerman fends it down the pitch.

On a length and around off, Marques Ackerman opens the bat face and guides it towards cover-point for a single.

Short of a length and on off, Aiden Markram rides the bounce well and punches it towards cover.

Pat Cummins bowls his just back of a length and on middle, Aiden Markram stays back and pats it towards mid on.

In the air...SAFE! Bangs this into the pitch, well outside off. Aiden Markram looks to take it on with a pull shot but has to drag it. He is not in control and gets a top edge. It flies towards deep mid-wicket, where Nathan Lyon moves to his right but the ball drops well wide of him. They cross.

SIX! Poor delivery and gets the treatment! Pat Cummins sticks to the short stuff to Marques Ackerman, but lands it down the leg side. The batter gets inside the line of it and just helps it on its way. Gets enough bat to sail it over the fine leg fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Touch fuller but down the leg side yet again, there to be hit. Marques Ackerman just tickles it away as the ball races to the fine leg fence for four more runs. 100 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA!

MAIDEN TEST FIFTY FOR ACKERMAN! A solid knock from a player who usually does not open in first-class cricket. He has looked more and more assured as the innings has gone on. Short of a length and around leg, Marques Ackerman rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep fine leg for a single. He raises his bat and relishes the moment.

On a length and on off, Aiden Markram stays back and blocks it out.

FOUR! That is a majestic shot! Not a half-volley by any means, but this is just around off, Aiden Markram trusts the surface, gets his hands through and drives it on the up to crash it through covers for a boundary.

Pitched up, on middle, Aiden Markram clips it through mid-wicket for a run.

Back of a length and on off, angling in a bit. Marques Ackerman looks to push it away from his body but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls towards point and the batters get one.

Good-length delivery, on off, shaping in just a bit. Aiden Markram lunges out but only to let it go to the keeper.

Good fielding! Fuller in length and on middle, Marques Ackerman shows the full face of the bat and drives it firmly down the pitch. Pat Cummins gets low on his follow-through and stops it with his left hand. Saves a certain boundary there.

Back of a length and on off, Marques Ackerman rides the bounce and pats it in front of short cover.

Dug into the surface, on middle, Marques Ackerman rolls his wrists and pulls but fails to beat square leg.

Short again and down the leg side, Marques Ackerman swivels and hooks it towards leg gully, where Nathan Lyon dives but lets it through for a single. He moves to 49 now.

Hard-length delivery, on off, Aiden Markram stays back and dabs it down to point.

Good length and just around off, shaping away. Aiden Markram offers no shot at it.

Loses his line and serves this full and down the leg side. Aiden Markram fails to glance it away. 

Bowls this on a good length and around off, takes off a bit and also holds its line. Aiden Markram lifts his arms to let it go as Alex Carey collects it above his head.

Much fuller and on off, Aiden Markram presses forward, gets his bat right in front of the front pad and fends it towards point.

On a length and on middle, Aiden Markram steps across and pats it towards mid on.

Goes fuller again and on off, Aiden Markram watches it through and blocks it right under his eyes as the ball rolls to mid off.

Maiden over! This is just short of a length and outside off. Aiden Markram does not get tempted and leaves it alone. Second maiden so far from Australia.

FOUR! 'Catch it' is the shout, but this goes in the gap! Floated, full and on middle and off. Marques Ackerman goes down for a premeditated reverse sweep but gets a bit of a top edge. It flies in the air but goes between backward point and short third and races to the fence for a boundary.

Tossed up, full and on off, Marques Ackerman uses his feet to get close to the pitch and taps it to short cover.

Pushed through quicker this time, shortish and on middle, Marques Ackerman keeps it out to the leg side.

Slows it up, full and just on off, Marques Ackerman defends it on the front foot.

Drags his length back, around leg, Marques Ackerman flicks it off the back foot wide of deep square leg and comes back for the second run.

FOUR! Top shot! This is short again and on off, turns away a bit. Marques Ackerman waits for the ball to come, gets on top of the bounce and punches it through covers. He calls for two, but he has timed it so well that it races away to the fence for a boundary.

Back of a length and on middle, nips back in with a bit of extra bounce. Aiden Markram stays back to work it to the leg side but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

Lands this on a good length and around off, shaping away a bit. Aiden Markram looks to play it from the crease but gets an outside edge that rolls through to backward point for a single.

Hits the deck hard from round the wicket, on off, Marques Ackerman gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Bowls this into the blockhole, outside off. Marques Ackerman gets his bat down and opens the bat face but squeezes it straight to backward point.

Short of a length and angling into the leg side, Marques Ackerman stays inside the line and hooks it, but not with much timing. It rolls towards fine leg for just a run. Ackerman will feel he missed out there as it was there to be put away.

On a length and on middle, Aiden Markram tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Errs in line a bit, serves this flatter and fuller, down the leg side. Aiden Markram tucks it just past short leg as the ball rolls to square leg.

Shorter in length and on middle, Aiden Markram stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Now, that's a statement! Tossed up, full and around middle. Marques Ackerman skips down the track but does not quite get to the pitch of it. He still follows through with the big shot and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Dragged back, on off, Marques Ackerman stabs it out to short cover.

Appeal for caught behind, but turned down! Fires this one, full and angling down the leg side. Marques Ackerman looks to clip it across the line but it looks like he misses it. There is a noise, and Alex Carey appeals after grabbing the ball. However, he or Lyon cannot convince Pat Cummins to take the review. The replay shows that the noise was from the bat hitting the ground.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Marques Ackerman gets forward to defend but gets an inside edge to short leg.

FOUR! Up and over! Short of a length and well outside off, offering width to the batter. Marques Ackerman gets the chance to free his arms and cuts it hard. Never tries to keep it down and hits it well over backward point for a boundary.

Much better! Just back of a length and much closer to the batter, on the fifth stump line. Marques Ackerman watches it through and leaves it alone.

FOUR! Deft touch! Josh Hazlewood hits the length hard and on off, angling in a bit. Marques Ackerman stays back and lets the ball come to him. He steers it away using the pace of the ball, beating gully to his right. Travis Head from backward point chases after it but the ball wins the race to the fence.

Hard length and just on off, Marques Ackerman dabs it down to point.

Dug into the surface, on middle and leg, Marques Ackerman stays inside the line of it and pulls it towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

Good-length delivery, around off, holds its line. Marques Ackerman offers no shot at it.

Angling in from a length around off, Markram nudges it to mid on, to the right of the fielder, and they pinch a single.

Cummins switches to round the wicket and pitches it fuller around off. Ackerman leans across to work it through the leg side, but the inside edge takes the ball towards the right of leg gully. There's enough time to sneak a single.

Bowls it on a length outside off, the batter shoulders arms to let that one through.

Again it is in the corridor outside off, on a length, Aiden allows it through.

Markram gets forward to meet the length delivery outside off, presenting a straight bat and pushing it safely towards cover. Tidy defense.

Aiden gets right behind the full delivery angling into off stump, covering the line well and keeping it out with a solid forward defense. 

Lyon gives this one extra air, tossing it up full on off. Marques Ackerman gets forward and keeps it watchfully out towards cover. A solid forward defense.

Ackerman looks to disrupt Lyon's rhythm with a reverse sweep! The full delivery lands on middle, but he can't beat the fielder at point, who cuts off the shot. The intent is clear, but there's no run to show for it.

Ackerman nudges the slightly shorter delivery on middle into the deep mid-wicket region and races back for two. FIFTY UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA! The home crowd responds with a hearty round of applause as the hosts bring up their half-century.

Short in length and outside off, Marques cuts off the back foot but finds point.

A flatter, fuller delivery skids in towards middle, and Ackerman tries to get his bat down in defense. It takes the inside edge and drops safely in front of short leg on the bounce.

No run, that is punched off the back foot but straight to the fielder at cover-point.

Full in length and just outside off, straightening a hint off the seam, Markram takes a big stride forward to cover the line and then shoulders arms.

FOUR! Markram is not holding back! Short around middle, he gets on top of the bounce and rolls his wrists through the pull, keeping it firmly along the ground. The ball races through backward square leg and away to the boundary. He's finding the gaps with aplomb.

Beats the bat! Cummins lands it on a probing length close to off, and the ball straightens just enough off the surface to beat Markram. He presses forward to defend but plays inside the line, leaving a narrow gap for the delivery to sneak past the outside edge.

Angling in, on a length, Markram works it in the gap at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

In the zone outside off, the batter is not interested in playing at that.

Shortish and on off, Aiden goes on the back foot and defends it down.

Ackerman gets forward to meet Lyon's loopy full delivery around off, keeping it watchfully out towards point. Solidly defended.

Lyon drops it a touch shorter around off, and Ackerman rocks back to meet it, pushing the ball firmly but safely towards cover. No run on offer.

Floated delivery, full and outside off, Marques Ackerman gets forward and then makes a leave.

A bit quicker, full and around middle, Marques defends it back to the bowler.

MISHIT! Ackerman charges down the track looking to launch the tossed-up delivery over the leg side, but gets nowhere near the middle of the bat. The inner edge sends it skimming towards deep square leg, and they settle for a single.

1 run, this time the batter goes back and punches it from the crease for a run at long on.

Fuller in length and outside off, Marques Ackerman drives off the front foot to covers, not in the gap.

Aerial, but safe! Cummins digs it in short around middle at 137 kph, and Ackerman swivels on the back foot to pull. He doesn't quite get hold of it, sending it looping towards fine leg, where it lands safely in front of the fielder. Just a single.

FOUR! Markram is making the most of these conditions, looking gorgeous for batting! A length ball outside off offers width, and he stays back before punching it firmly through the gap at cover. Crisp contact, excellent placement, and another boundary to keep the runs flowing.

Around off, the batter has just blocked that from the crease.

Length ball on off, defended.

In the channel outside off, on a length, Markram has nothing to do with it. After 10, South Africa are 41/0.

Slides down leg on a length, and Ackerman looks to help it fine with a flick but fails to make contact. A missed opportunity to collect a few easy runs.

At 146.5 kph, the length delivery hurries onto Ackerman around middle. He stays back, drops it softly into the mid-wicket region and picks up a quick single.

Angles in a length ball around off, from round the wicket, Markram defends it off the front foot to covers.

FOUR! Exquisite timing from Markram! Starc goes full outside off at 147 kph, and Markram leans into the drive, transferring his weight beautifully onto the front foot. He meets it sweetly and crunches it through the gap at cover. A picture-perfect stroke, all elegance and authority.

Starc switches back to over the wicket and angles across a length delivery, outside off, Markram leaves.

Shortish and on off, climbing onto the batter, Markram does well to rise in his stance and defends it down on the pitch. It's been a confident start from the Proteas.

Wrong line to begin his spell. Short and down the leg side, Marques Ackerman allows it through easily.

Length deliveyr on middle and off, Ackerman takes the pace off the ball with soft hands, nudging it towards cover. There's just enough time to scamper through for a single.

In the corridor of uncertainty, the batter shoulders arms to let that one through.

Markram shuffles across to cover his stumps, watches the good-length delivery pass outside off and leaves it alone. A measured decision to let that one go.

SIX! Markram makes a statement in emphatic fashion! Cummins bangs it in short on off, right in the batter's hitting zone, and Aiden rides the bounce before unleashing a ferocious pull. The ball sails over mid-wicket and into the crowd. A mighty blow!

Cummins corrects his length and bowls it outside off on the fuller side, Markram drives with good timing but finds the cover fielder.

BEATEN! Ackerman has a needless flirt outside off. Starc sends down a short-of-length delivery at 142.3 kph, shaping away, and Ackerman hangs his bat away from his body. He fails to make contact as the ball whistles past the outside edge.

Starc goes short and wide outside off, at 140 clicks, this time Marques Ackerman allows it through to the keeper.

The leg gully nearly comes into play! Starc digs in a short ball around leg stump, and Ackerman instinctively goes for the pull, only to glove it past leg gully. Lyon dives sharply to his right, but the ball is well beyond his reach. They settle for a single.

Length delivery, around off, Markram pushes it with great timing but finds the cover fielder.

Back of a length on middle, Markram stays back and helps it to mid-wicket.

Aiden Markram rises onto his toes and gets behind the short-of-length delivery outside off, steering it down into the off side with a compact defensive stroke. A good half-hour of play so far for the hosts.

Shortish and down the leg side, Markram stands back and tries to glance but misses.

Markram rocks back to a back-of-a-length delivery outside off and punches it firmly in front of square on the off side. The placement is not quite right, though, as the ball travels straight to Lyon on the bounce. A scoring opportunity goes begging.

Gets behind the line of the delivery and defends it to mid on.

Sliding down the leg side, Aiden misses out on the flick shot. It deflects off his pads to fine leg, they get a leg bye.

Full and outside off, Ackerman drives it off the front foot to mid off.

A full delivery angles down the leg side, and Ackerman flicks it towards short leg. The fielder fails to gather cleanly, parrying the ball away towards mid-wicket. The batters are alert to the misfield and cross for a single.

Starc has his first go at Ackerman and starts with a shortish delivery outside off, shaping away from the batter. Ackerman keeps his bat out of harm's way and lets it pass through to the keeper.

Starc goes full, targeting off stump and getting a hint of movement away. Ackerman leans into the drive, but his head falls towards the off side and he makes contact with the outside half of the bat. The ball rolls through the gap at cover, allowing the batters to scamper through for a single.

Starc switches to round the wicket for the right-hander, delivers it short and on off, Markram defends it from the back foot.

Ouch! Starc turns up the heat, touching 149 kph with a sharp bouncer aimed at the body. Markram picks it up late, struggles to get out of the way and ducks with his eyes shut. Fortunately, the ball strikes his armguard rather than the body and rolls away towards deep fine leg. They sneak in a single, but that was a testing delivery.

In the channel outside off, on a length and shaping away, Marques Ackerman removes his bat at the last moment.

FOUR! Nicely played! At 147.9 kph, Starc overpitches and strays too straight. Ackerman leans across and whips it through mid-wicket with excellent timing. The ball races to the fence, and that crisp stroke should do wonders for Ackerman's confidence against the pace on offer.

Hazlewood angles one in on a length, close to off stump. Ackerman covers his stumps and lets it go, trusting the bounce to carry the ball safely through.

Hazlewood pitches it fuller around off, and Ackerman comes forward with hard hands, looking to push through the line. He fails to find the middle of the bat once again, the ball dribbles off the inside half towards mid-wicket. Not quite finding his rhythm just yet.

A shortish delivery aimed at the rib cage, drifting around leg stump. Ackerman rocks back and keeps it down safely in front of short leg, staying compact against the rising ball.

FOUR! A helpful deflection and Ackerman will gladly take it. Hazlewood gets the ball to swing in, but strays down the leg side. Ackerman gets a faint tickle on it, sending it skimming away to fine leg for a boundary.

A shot of real substance from Ackerman! Fuller and outside off, he gets right behind the drive and nails it off the middle of the bat towards cover. The fielder dives to his right and manages a half-stop, preventing a boundary. The batters settle for a single, but Ackerman will take confidence from that crisp strike.

Fullish and on middle, the batter has just blocked that from the crease to mid on.

Full and around off, the batter has just blocked that from the crease.

FOUR! Markram is finally off the mark, and he does it in style on his eighth delivery. A length ball on middle and leg is met with a neatly timed flick through square leg. He closes the face of the bat with excellent balance, placing it into the gap and collecting his first boundary.

Serves it on a good length, around middle and off, Aiden brings a straight bat in defense.

Markram gets forward to a fuller delivery outside off and pushes it firmly towards cover. With the ball travelling straight to the fielder, he is quick to call no and sends Ackerman back.

Fuller again and in line with the middle stump, Markram strides forward and defends it watchfully.

FOUR! Goodness, that's a cracking shot! Clocked at 147.4 kph, the short delivery sits up around off stump. Markram stands tall, rides the bounce beautifully and punches it sweetly through the gap at cover-point. Pure timing, and the ball races away to the boundary.

Hazlewood begins with a length delivery outside off, angling across and moving away from Ackerman. The batter keeps his bat tucked away and lets it sail through to the keeper.

Hazlewood brings it fuller around middle and off, with a hint of inward movement. Ackerman gets his bat down to defend, but the ball takes the inside edge and drops onto his pads. It deflects to covers.

Hazlewood pulls the length back, targeting middle stump. Ackerman is pushed onto the back foot and brings his bat down in defense, playing it off his toes.

South Africa are away! The crowd finds its voice as Ackerman gets the innings moving. A full delivery around middle swings in, and his attempted defense catches the inside edge, sending the ball down towards deep square leg. Starc races across from deep fine leg to cut it off, but not before the batters collect two runs.

Back of a length, around off, Marques Ackerman drops his hands to let it through and the ball brushes his left hand before going to the keeper.

Full and around off, Marques gets on the front foot and pushes it defensively to covers.

Mitchell Starc starts with a good-length delivery, slightly short and outside off, shaping away from the batter. Aiden Markram stays rooted in his crease and lets it pass through to the keeper.

Starc brings it closer to the off stump, keeping the length on the shorter side with a hint of inward movement. Markram remains deep in his crease and opts for another leave.

Starc keeps probing away from off stump with another shortish delivery in the corridor. Markram is happy to leave it alone, showing no interest in playing at anything outside his off stump.

Starc offers a fuller length around off, getting the ball to angle away. Markram strides forward, covers the line with his front foot and shoulders arms once more. Aiden is yet to make contact with the ball.

Another probing delivery outside off, pitched on a good length. Markram remains patient, letting it pass without offering a shot. He's content to leave for now, waiting for a delivery worth playing.

A fuller delivery around off finally draws Markram into a shot. He gets forward in defense, but the ball comes off the inside half of the bat and trickles back towards the bowler. A watchful opening over, none for none.