Inglis century and Lyon's late strike leave South Africa 40 ahead at Newlands

Australia turned a one-run overnight advantage into a commanding position at Newlands, reducing South Africa to 140 for 4 by stumps on day three of the series-deciding third Test

Josh Inglis completed his second Test century and put on 185 for the fifth wicket with Alex Carey, carrying Australia from 330 for 5 overnight to 429 and a first-innings lead of 100.

South Africa lost four wickets in reaching 140 for 4 in reply, a position that leaves them 40 runs ahead with six wickets standing and two days to play.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took two wickets apiece, Lyon bowling captain Temba Bavuma in the closing overs to break the stand that had begun to settle the innings.

Inglis reaches his second Test hundred

Australia resumed on 330 for 5, a single run in front, with Inglis unbeaten on 85 and Carey alongside him. Inglis moved to three figures in the morning for the second Test century of his career.

The pair added 185 from 287 balls, a stand that turned a marginal first-innings position into a meaningful advantage.

It was the sort of partnership the surface had not allowed to that point. Australia had chosen to bowl on the opening morning, and South Africa had gone from 158 without loss to 329 all out in their first innings, Starc taking six.

Carey made 80 from 168 balls, his most substantial innings of the series, before the partnership was broken.

Harmer removes both set batters

Simon Harmer accounted for Inglis, who edged behind to wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, and then had Carey caught by Aiden Markram off an outside edge.

Pat Cummins fell for a duck to Kagiso Rabada, and Starc edged Gerald Coetzee through to Rickelton.

Cooper Connolly held the lower order together with 29 from 83 balls until Marco Jansen had him caught and bowled.

Australia were all out for 429 in 125.1 overs, a lead of 100 that looked larger on a pitch where no side had yet batted through a day.

Starc strikes in the opening overs

Starc removed Markram inside the first three overs of South Africa's second innings, the opener driving tamely to Travis Head at mid-off.

David Bedingham, unsettled by the short ball, picked out deep square leg in the seventh over to leave South Africa two down and still behind.

Starc closed the day with 2-29 from 9 overs and eight wickets in the match, having taken six in the first innings.

Ackerman caught off the glove

Marques Ackerman reached his half-century in the 21st over and made 62 from 80 balls, the innings that kept South Africa in contact with Australia's total.

He fell when a Starc bouncer took his glove and then his helmet grille, looping to Cameron Green. He walked off without a review being heard.

Ackerman and Bavuma had added 64 for the third wicket, the only partnership of substance in the innings so far.

Lyon's late breakthrough

Bavuma had batted 115 balls for his 35 when Lyon bowled him in the closing overs, a flick against the spin that left the stumps exposed.

Matthew Breetzke was 19 not out from 59 balls at stumps, with Rickelton on 8 from 6. The pair are charged with building a lead on the fourth morning that Australia's batting has so far made look difficult.

Cummins went wicketless again, extending a run of 358 balls without a dismissal that has cost him 205 runs.

Two days remain, and South Africa have six wickets with which to set a target on a surface that has rewarded the bowlers in every session so far.

Scorecard: South Africa 329 (82.3 overs) and 140 for 4 (47 overs; Ackerman 62, Bavuma 35, Starc 2-29) lead Australia 429 (125.1 overs; Carey 80, Connolly 29) by 40 runs.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.