Inglis and Carey lift Australia to narrow lead in Cape Town decider

Josh Inglis and Alex Carey carried Australia to 330 for four at stumps on Wednesday, securing a one-run first-innings lead over South Africa in the deciding Test at Newlands. The Herald reported that their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership added 145 after the visitors had slipped to 185 for four in Cape Town.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmqJzD2v7Gw

Australia's earlier recovery had come through Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green, who put on 126 for the third wicket. According to the ICC's match report, Renshaw made 74 and Green contributed 65 before Marco Jansen dismissed both. Renshaw's wicket was Jansen's 100th in Test cricket, giving the South African seamer a personal milestone during the afternoon.

Those wickets followed another pair of breakthroughs by Simon Harmer in the morning. The ICC reported that the off-spinner bowled Travis Head for 41 and then had Marnus Labuschagne caught at first slip without scoring after five deliveries. Head and Renshaw had supplied a 58-run opening partnership before those dismissals brought Green to the crease.

Inglis finished on 85 from 111 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, while Carey remained unbeaten on 51 from 126 deliveries, including four boundaries. The Herald's report from the ground recorded a measured start to their partnership: the first 50 runs took 108 balls, before the stand reached 100 from 168 deliveries.

The same report said Inglis reached his half-century from 76 balls and Carey needed 125 to reach his own fifty. South Africa took the new ball at 80.1 overs but could not separate them. Australia added 44 in the final 10 overs, completing the day with six wickets still available to extend the narrow advantage.

The ICC confirmed that South Africa went without a wicket throughout the final session. The series remains level after Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa answered with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. With the Cape Town match scheduled to run until 31 October, the visitors have moved ahead but neither side has settled the series.