Australia lead by 47 runs

Two dreadful errors from Aiden Markram and David Bedingham have left South Africa in deep trouble in the final Test against Australia at Newlands.

The Proteas were 53/2 at tea, still trailing the visitors by 47 runs.

Australia had been bowled out for 429, thanks to a century from Josh Inglis and half centuries from Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey. Simon Harmer was the home team’s most successful bowler taking 4/104, while the newly top ranked bowler and all-rounder in the Test format, Marco Jansen finished with 3/60.

Although a deficit of 100 runs at the start of their innings was a substantial one, the Proteas should still have taken solace from the fact that the Newlands pitch remains a good one for batting. Australia’s no.10 Nathan Lyon spent an hour at the crease, and until the last few overs he faced from Wiaan Mulder, he looked largely untroubled.

But be careless, and no matter the conditions or the quality of the attack, you’re likely to be in trouble and that’s exactly what happened to Markram and Bedingham.

The cover drive is one of the Proteas opener’s favourite shots and one he plays with style and conviction. Neither of those elements were on display with the shot he struck straight to Travis Head, the only fielder stationed in front of the wicket of the off-side.

It was loose, and Markram looked like he wanted to be ill as he made his way off Newlands.

If anything, Bedingham’s was worse. Having been dismissed pulling in the first innings, he got out the same way again in the second, this time losing his wicket to Josh Hazlewood, who took the catch in the first innings to dismiss him, with Lyon stationed at deep backward square hardly needing to move.

If Bedingham is picked again - and it would be entirely justifiable if the selectors chose not to do so after Thursday’s mistake - he can expect a diet of short pitched bowling from both Sri Lanka and England later in the summer.

There were also two close run out chances, with Marques Ackerman extremely lucky to be resuming his innings after tea, having set off for an ill-judged single, after tapping the ball straight to Cooper Connolly in the covers, but the young Australian missed the stumps with his throw, with Ackerman having given up regain his ground.