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South Africa scrap towards 300 after Australia fightback - follow live

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Pat Cummins
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Marco Jansen sneaks a quick single off the final ball of that Josh Hazlewood over, which goes for nine.

This is proving to be quite the fruitful partnership.

Cooper Connolly, who picked up his first Test wicket earlier today, is back into the attack as Nathan Lyon takes a break.

Marco Jansen sneaks a quick single off the final ball of that Josh Hazlewood over, which goes for nine.

This is proving to be quite the fruitful partnership.

Cooper Connolly, who picked up his first Test wicket earlier today, is back into the attack as Nathan Lyon takes a break.

It has been a thrilling first two sessions as Newlands.

After Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl, South Africa's opening batters Aiden Markram (78) and Marques Ackerman (95) put on 158 for the opening wicket.

The hosts were then 203-1 when Mitchell Starc caught Markram off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

From there, it has been a mini-collapse from South Africa who are 221-4 at tea after Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke were dismissed for zero and two respectively.

We will take a brief break here and will be back for the start of the evening session.

The review shows the ball has hit Breetzke's front pad first!

This is turning into a collapse for the hosts who have gone from 203-1 to 216-4.

It seemed speculative at first, but a great review from Australia. Breetzke had plenty of bat on it, but the ball touched the pad first. It is a first ever Test wicket for the 23-year-old Cooper Connolly.

An excellent spell for Australia.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma will be given a luxury when he comes into bat next at some point today.

At Gqeberha, he went out to the middle at 12-2 prior to producing his best ever Test knock of 179.

In the first Test, was in at 84-2 and 73-2, so he's going to get the best part of 100 runs on top of that as a bare minimum.

Five singles and start the over before Mitchell Starc produces a no ball.

The extra delivery is punished for four by David Bedingham, a 10-run over for the hosts.

Marques Ackerman raises bat
Image source, Getty Images

Marques Ackerman needs just one ball in the over to get his 50.

It has been a great knock from the Test newbie, reaching his first half-century in just 62 deliveries.

He has scored north of 6,000 first-class runs at an average north of 48.5, and can add a Test 50 to his list of career achievements.

Marques Ackerman sends that into the stands!

Another skip down the track, he smashes a Nathan Lyon delivery for six. Using his feet and timing the stroke expertly.

A hammer blow to Lyon, who had kept the rate down until now.

South Africa opener Marques Ackerman is making just his second Test outing.

On debut at Gqeberha, Ackerman only got one chance to impress. He scored just six runs.

Currently at a Test-best of 16, he will hope to make better on his chance in this series-decider.

Five runs from that last over.

Hosts South Africa have made one change to the side that won in the second Test of this series. Gerald Coetzee comes into the team to replace fellow seamer Anrich Nortje, who suffered a groin injury in Gqeberha.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada

Meanwhile, Australia have made four changes from the second Test. Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon all come in. Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster are the quartet coming out of the side.

Australia: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

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