Australia leads South Africa by one run after scoring 330-4 to respond to a South African total of 329. Marnus Labuschagne failed to score a run from five deliveries, marking his 48th consecutive Test match without a century.
The 32-year-old Australian has not reached three figures since his last century at Old Trafford in 2023. Labuschagne's batting average has dropped to 24.77 since that 2023 milestone.
Steve Smith was ruled out of the Test match due to a neck injury. Josh Inglis finished 85 not out, forming an unbroken 145-run partnership with Alex Carey.
The 31-year-old Inglis had not faced the red ball since March, with his preparations restricted by a broken finger. Inglis averaged 12.66 in three first-class matches at number three, where his best score was 29.
Cameron Green scored 65 runs below Table Mountain, having played 39 previous Test matches. Green returned 188 runs across eight innings during a four-Test trial in 2024 and 2025.
Matt Renshaw scored 74 runs, following a career-best 190 in Durban. Renshaw was initially assigned to number five before the Nic Maddinson experiment ended after two Tests.
Marco Jansen dismissed both Renshaw and Green in successive overs. Mitchell Starc inspired a South Africa fightback on day one.
Ricky Ponting said, "He can't score off the back foot." Jason Gillespie said, "I say that because, respectfully, I don't think anyone will be given that length of time again."
Australia will play a Test against New Zealand in December.
