Live: Australia begins day two at crease after Starc blitz flattens South Africa

Travis Head and Matt Renshaw look to set Australia a solid platform on day two in Cape Town after Mitchell Starc's late blitz blew South Africa's tail away. 

Follow the live blog below for all the scores, updates and commentary.

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Wed 28 Oct 2026 at 6:36pmWed 28 Oct 2026 at 6:36pm

A look at South Africa's first innings performance

If you missed yesterday's action, here's how South Africa fared with Marques Ackerman's quite brilliant 95 leading the way.

Both Ackerman and his fellow opener Aiden Markram will feel they left centuries on the table by getting out with rash shots.

Wed 28 Oct 2026 at 6:33pmWed 28 Oct 2026 at 6:33pm

Welcome!

By Chris De Silva

Good evening and welcome to ABC Sport's live coverage from day two of the third Test between South Africa and Australia.

What an opening day we had in Cape Town yesterday as the fortunes of the two teams oscillated quite wildly.

South Africa seemed like it had Australia on the mat on two separate occasions before Mitchell Starc's four wickets in six deliveries capped off the day in style for the Aussies.

The Proteas will still be OK with the 329 they've got on the board, but will feel they've squandered a chance to really bat Australia out of the game having put on 158 runs for the opening wicket.

Will Australia's batters have a better time of it today than they did in Gqeberha?

Let's find out!