Australia have strengthened their prospects of a famous win in the first Test against South Africa after bowling out the hosts for 251 on Day 3 at Kingsmead. The visitors were at 17 without losing a wicket in their second innings, giving them an overall lead of 139 runs with two days to go.
South Africa could not build any substantial partnerships despite seven batters clearing the 25-run mark for the home team.

David Bedingham top-scored with 49, while Australia's bowlers were always finding ways to break up the hosts' partnerships and keep them from scoring a commanding total.

Steve Smith surpasses Joe Root in Test catches, while Australia seizes control

Bedingham and Aiden Markram gave South Africa their most productive partnership of the innings, scoring a total of 84 runs for the second wicket. Markram made 37 before edging Mitchell Starc to Matt Renshaw at first slip while Bedingham's resistance finished when he edged a back-foot drive and was caught by Steve Smith.

Steve Smith's catch took the opener's tally to 222, putting him in second place in the Test records in catches behind England's Joe Root, who has made 220 catches. The Australian opener added two more catches to his tally in the innings, including a one-handed effort to dismiss Kyle Verreynne for 13.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma had a brief stay at the crease and scored only three runs before falling to a reverse sweep against Nathan Lyon. Wiaan Mulder made 30 while Tristan Stubbs got a 32, but neither of the batters could convert his start into a good score. Marco Jansen gave some late aggression with 26 off 20 deliveries, but Australia still made inroads into the lower order.

Pat Cummins took three wickets for Australia in the bowling attack, and Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon each took two wickets.

South Africa's lower order gave a good fight, and Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer put on a partnership of 52 runs for the ninth wicket. The lower order's fight helped the hosts to score useful runs late in the innings.

Australia, too, had a start to their second innings at stumps, with Nic Maddinson looking to score freely from the outset. He scored a boundary early and remained unbeaten on 17, with his opening batting partner also remaining unbeaten at the end of the day's play.

The visitors will want to extend their advantage early on Day 4 and put South Africa under pressure with a tough target.

The hosts, in turn, need early breakthroughs to stop Australia from making an even bigger lead. Despite the lower order's excellent fight, South Africa have a lot of work to do to get back into the game.