An exciting day of cricket unfolded on the opening day of the third and final ICC World Test Championship contest between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town.

South Africa had a brilliant start with the bat but the Aussies turned the tide late in the day, courtesy Mitchell Starc's brilliance as the left-armer collected his 20th career Test five-for as the hosts were dismissed for 329.

It was a great comeback from the Aussies after South Africa had put on 158 for the first wicket and were even 327/6 late in the day, before Starc's spell provided the visitors the momentum.

Starc finished with figures of 6/72, with the left-armer paying tribute to the problem solving he produced while the day was unfolding.

"A lot of us have been around long enough to try and problem solve while we're going," he said. 

"(I) just happened to get a few right with the second newy (new ball). It would have been nice to do it with the new ball in the first hour, but I think that's a feature of our group. We can problem solve before the end of the day's play. To bowl them out with clearly not our best start in the first two hours, I think it will take that."

After Australia elected to field, Proteas openers Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman gave the visiting bowlers a run for their money, showcasing composure and awareness to guide the Proteas with a big opening stand.

They navigated through to lunch without losing their wicket, making 140 runs together to begin proceedings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series finale.

The pair put together 158 runs for the first wicket when Ackerman tried to step out of his crease but Alex Carey’s quick hands trapped him. His maiden Test century was cut short by five runs, with the left-hander admitting he missed a big chance to score his maiden Test century.

"You live by the sword and you die by the sword. I've learned that throughout my career," he said.

"But yes, I left a hundred out there. I'm not really happy with that. But that's just good motivation for hopefully trying to get my first one."

Markram kept ticking with the bat and looked set alongside David Bedingham, but his stay at the crease came to a close on 78, when Starc took a well-calculated catch off Josh Hazlewood.

Skipper Temba Bavuma was the next to fall to Nathan Lyon’s magic, when the spinner’s beautifully flighted length ball drifted away from the right-hander to castle him.

Matthew Breetzke wasn’t able to make much of an impact, courtesy Cooper Connolly trapping him leg-before for just two runs.

The Proteas headed into tea at 221/4. Bedingham (50) and Wiaan Mulder (0) were the first ones to fall after the break while Ryan Rickelton held fort at the other end.

He made a fine 42, while Marco Jansen (52) once again had a role to play with the bat, making another valuable half century.