Inglis Century Puts Australia Ahead, But South Africa Refuse to Fold

Cape Town (Oct 29): Australia tightened their grip on the decisive third Test at Newlands, but South Africa refused to fold, reaching 140 for 4 in their second innings at stumps — an overall lead of 40 with six wickets in hand. The match now rests entirely on how many runs those six wickets can add, and on how Australia cope with a fourth-innings chase. Australia made 429 in their first innings for a lead of 100. South Africa had been bowled out for 329. The equation is now a simple one: bat last, or bowl last. A century, and a regret about the runs left behind Josh Inglis made 102. It is the second century of his Test career, and the quirk is that both have been exactly 102. But Inglis chose not to dwell on his own milestone, instead pointing at the total Australia failed to reach. "We didn’t get more runs this morning. We probably needed another 50," Inglis said. "In a game like this you need a big total, because batting last is not going to be easy." That is not mere modesty. Australia’s last five wickets yielded comparatively little, which means the lead is 100 rather than what it might have been. On a surface that slows and takes turn as the match wears on, those missing 50 to 70 runs are worth disproportionately more in the fourth innings than the raw number suggests. A late call-up, and imperfect preparation Playing this match was never guaranteed for Inglis. Steve Smith withdrew with a neck injury, and Inglis was drafted into the XI. He admitted he only learned he was playing after arriving at the ground. "We found out once we got to the ground. It wasn’t ideal preparation, but that’s cricket," he said. Smith’s absence is not merely the loss of one batter. He is among the most experienced players in the side and a key member of the slip cordon. In a fourth innings where catches will decide the match, that absence may be felt most sharply. Nor is it purely a one-match concern: neck and back complaints in batters in their mid-to-late thirties have a habit of returning. Two wicketkeepers in one innings Australia’s innings was powered by both of their wicketkeeper-batters. Inglis made 102; Alex Carey made 80. Together they supplied a huge share of the total. It is the clearest evidence of Australia’s bench strength — a player told on the morning of a series decider that he was playing went on to make a century. But it also creates a squeeze: when Smith is fit, three batters will be competing for two places. South Africa: set, but not sticking around Marques Ackerman made 62 and captain Temba Bavuma 35. Both looked settled and the partnership was building, but Australia struck twice in the final session. In Inglis’s words, Australia "controlled the tempo" in that passage. Inglis also conceded that Ackerman and Bavuma were "batting well" at the time. That is why the closing session became the decisive passage of the match. Had those two wickets not fallen, South Africa’s lead could have moved towards 80 or 100 rather than 40 — and Australia’s fourth-innings target would have looked considerably harder. Lyon’s threat, and the nature of the pitch Inglis described the surface as "a really good wicket