Australia are sitting in the box seat to “drive home the advantage” in the third and final Test of their series against South Africa in Cape Town.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the hosts piled on 329 runs — with the visitors responding with a strong early partnership.

Wickets came in pairs for South Africa, until Josh Inglis and Alex Carey steadied the ship to give Australia a one-run lead.

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But what happens next could decide the Test according to legendary seamer Vernon Philander, who was predicting the final two days could see the pitch deteriorate.

“This is the beauty of Test match cricket. We are so quick to expect results,” Philander said on SEN.

“But this is a really good batting surface still. I don’t think we have seen any batting demons. We have not seen any lateral movement, nor have we seen a lot of turn.

“You have to commend (the Australians) for the application they have shown. They have done an excellent job.

“But can they drive home the advantage? I do feel first innings runs will be important. I do get the feeling days four and five will be a batter’s nightmare.”

Australia will be desperate to take a dominant lead into the second innings in order to minimise their potential chase to close out the Test.

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Follow all the action from day two of the deciding Test between Australia and South Africa below. Can’t see the blog? (Click here)

TEAMS

Australia: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.



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