Mitchell Starc Takes Six Wickets as Australia Fight Back Against South Africa

Mitchell Starc produced a sensational bowling performance, taking six wickets for 72 runs to help Australia bowl out South Africa for 329 on the opening day of the third Test at Newlands on Tuesday.

South Africa looked firmly in control after captain Pat Cummins elected to bowl first. Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram shared a commanding 158-run opening partnership, with Markram scoring 78 and Ackerman contributing 95 off 94 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes.

Australia fought back after Ackerman was stumped off Nathan Lyon. Markram then fell to Josh Hazlewood, while Lyon dismissed Temba Bavuma for a duck. Starc struck twice in three balls, removing David Bedingham for 50 and Wiaan Mulder without scoring.

Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen rebuilt the innings with a 95-run seventh-wicket partnership, scoring 42 and 52 respectively. However, Starc turned the match around with a devastating burst after the second new ball, claiming four wickets in six deliveries to dismiss Rickelton, Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada.

Australia made four changes for the series decider, with Steve Smith ruled out due to a neck injury.