CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Mitchell Starc bagged his 20th five-wicket haul as South Africa slid from 203-1 to 329 all out on Day 1 of the deciding third and final cricket test against Australia at Newlands on Tuesday.

The Proteas were 192-1 at drinks in the second session after Australia had won the toss and opted to bowl, with Marques Ackerman 95 off 94 balls.

Starc, though, took 6-72, his best figures against South Africa in tests, to fashion a turnaround.

Aiden Markram scored 78 and David Bedingham made 50 before the middle-order collapsed. Marco Jansen then produced a late flurry with 52.

Ackerman and Markram had put on 140 by lunch with Australia looking clueless after having made four changes to the side.

Starc’s 6-72 sparks Australia recovery as South Africa slides from 203-1 to 329 all out | iNFOnews.ca — South Africa’s Marques Ackerman plays a shot on day one of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)

Chasing his maiden test century, Ackerman was stumped for 95 off Nathan Lyon after charging the off-spinner. He hit 12 fours and two sixes.

Markram, who was dropped off Starc in the morning session, added 45 with Bedingham as South Africa moved to 203-1.

Starc then pulled off a stunning catch at square leg to dismiss Markram off Josh Hazlewood before Lyon bowled skipper Temba Bavuma for a three-ball duck.

Left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly picked up his maiden test wicket when he trapped Matthew Breetzke lbw for 2.

Starc removed Bedingham after tea and had Wiaan Mulder caught behind two balls later for a duck, with South Africa having lost five wickets for just 29 runs.

Jansen and Ryan Rickelton stemmed the tide, putting on 95 for the seventh wicket.

Jansen scored a second successive half-century while Rickelton made 42.

Starc, though, struck again with the second new ball. He had Rickelton lbw in the 81st over and two balls later bowled Jansen.

The Australia paceman made it four wickets in six balls when he bowled Gerald Coetzee for a golden duck and removed Kagiso Rabada for another nought, plunging South Africa from 327-6 to 329 all out.

Starc’s previous best against the Proteas was 6-154 in Perth in 2012.

The series is tied at 1-1. Australia won the first test in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa triumphed in the second match in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.