Josh Inglis matched his career-best score of 102 on Thursday as Australia moved into a commanding position on the third day of the deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands. The tourists reached lunch at 411 for eight in reply to South Africa's first-innings 329, an 82-run lead with two wickets still in hand, in a match that will decide both the series and the world's number-one Test ranking.

A partnership that changed the match

Inglis and Alex Carey resumed on the third morning unbeaten, having already carried Australia past South Africa's total. Inglis reached his second Test century off 132 balls before falling to spinner Simon Harmer, caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton, while Carey made 80 before edging Harmer to Aiden Markram at slip. Their stand turned a precarious 185 for four into a position of real strength.

Harmer fights back for South Africa

Harmer finished the morning session with four wickets for 104 runs, and South Africa kept chipping away after the big partnership was broken. Kagiso Rabada trapped captain Pat Cummins leg before wicket without scoring, and Mitchell Starc became Gerald Coetzee's first Test victim in two years. Yet the damage had largely been done: Australia's lower order, with Cooper Connolly unbeaten on 20 at lunch, still had room to stretch the lead further.

Everything to play for in Cape Town

The series stands at 1-1 after Australia won in Durban by 214 runs and South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship holders, now face a long second innings to stay in the contest, while Australia can bat them out of the match. The tourists hold the initiative in a winner-takes-all finale.

Sources: Reuters and ESPNcricinfo.