Starc Breaks Partnership as South Africa Reach 86 for 2 on Day Three in Durban

PothikTV News Desk: 11 October 2026, 10:34 am

Australia made an early breakthrough on the third morning of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban, with Mitchell Starc removing Aiden Markram to leave the hosts at 86 for two at the drinks break.

South Africa resumed their first innings at 27 for one following an early close due to bad light on day two. Resuming batters Markram and David Bedingham navigated a disciplined opening spell from Australian seamers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, gradually building momentum with several boundary hits.

Markram and Bedingham brought up South Africa’s fifty and shared a fifty-run partnership, with Bedingham playing aggressively by striking multiple boundaries off Hazlewood and Starc. However, Starc struck after shifting around the wicket, forcing Markram to edge a back-foot drive to Matthew Renshaw at first slip for 36.

The dismissal marked Starc’s 446th Test wicket, ending a promising second-wicket stand. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma joined Bedingham at the crease, with Bedingham moving to 48 unbeaten prior to the drinks break while surviving a blow to the hand from a Starc short ball.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was introduced into the attack during the morning session and immediately extracted sharp turn from the Kingsmead pitch, creating close-in appeals against Bavuma as conditions showed early signs of assisting spin.

Earlier in the match, Australia recovered from 124 for six to post a first-innings total of 390 all out, anchored by Renshaw’s career-best 190 after coming into the side at number five.