Australia vs South Africa: Pat Cummins' tourists fight back to edge first day

Key Points:

• South Africa scored 329 all out on day one of the third Test in Cape Town, with opener Marques Ackerman scoring 95 and Aiden Markram 78, despite Mitchell Starc taking six wickets for 72 runs.
• Australia, put into the field by captain Pat Cummins who chose to bowl first on a pitch with moisture, struggled early but staged a strong comeback in the afternoon session, exploiting some reckless South African batting.
• Starc's late burst of four wickets in six balls turned the momentum, dismissing key South African batsmen and restricting the hosts to a sub-330 total after a promising start.
• Cummins' decision to bowl first is under scrutiny, as it mirrors past controversial calls by captains who chose to bowl on fresh pitches, but Australia's bowlers' resilience has so far prevented the decision from backfiring.
• Australia's batting lineup remains fragile with injuries and form issues, but the team's ability to fight back under pressure offers hope as they prepare to bat next in this crucial series decider that will impact future rankings and the Ashes.