Jansen reaches 100 Test wickets as Australia edge ahead at Newlands
DAY TWO: South Africa 329 all out; Australia 330/4. Australia lead by one run.
VENUE: Newlands, Cape Town
SERIES: Third Test, Australia tour of South Africa
MARCO Jansen marked his rise to the top of the ICC Test bowling and all-rounder rankings by claiming his 100th Test wicket as Australia edged one run ahead of South Africa on the second day of the third Test at Newlands on Wednesday.
Australia reached 330 for four at stumps after 90 overs, with Josh Inglis unbeaten on 85 and Alex Carey on 51. Their partnership had carried the visitors past South Africa’s first-innings total of 329, leaving the contest finely balanced heading into day three.
Jansen reached the 100-wicket milestone when he dismissed Matt Renshaw for 74 in the 50th over. The left-arm fast bowler had South Africa convinced that Renshaw had edged a short delivery, and a review confirmed the faint contact. It was a significant moment for Jansen, who had already established himself as one of the leading all-rounders in world cricket.
His latest ranking achievement followed an outstanding performance in the previous Test, where he scored 85 and took five wickets for 33 runs in Australia’s first innings before claiming one for 34 in the second. The ICC’s latest rankings elevated him to No. 1 in both the Test bowling and all-rounder categories.
Jansen also contributed 52 runs in South Africa’s first innings, helping the hosts reach 329 after they had looked well placed to post a bigger total.
Marques Ackerman came closest to a century for South Africa, scoring 95 off 94 balls, while Aiden Markram made 78 from 141 deliveries. David Bedingham added 50, but Australia’s bowlers struck regularly after the hosts had built a strong opening partnership.
Ackerman was stumped off Nathan Lyon after advancing down the pitch, ending a promising innings that included 12 fours and two sixes. Markram fell for 78, caught by Mitchell Starc off Josh Hazlewood, before Lyon bowled captain Temba Bavuma for a duck.
Australia then took control late in the innings through Starc, who claimed six wickets for 72 runs. He removed Bedingham and Wiaan Mulder in successive deliveries before returning to dismantle the tail. Jansen was bowled for 52, and Starc completed his six-wicket haul as South Africa were dismissed for 329 in 82.3 overs.
Australia’s reply began steadily before Simon Harmer struck twice in the 18th over, removing Travis Head for 41 and Marnus Labuschagne for a duck. The visitors were 58 for two, giving South Africa an opening to press for further wickets.
Renshaw and Cameron Green rebuilt the innings with a 126-run partnership for the third wicket. Green made 65 before Jansen found his edge and Harmer took the catch, leaving Australia 185 for four.
That proved to be South Africa’s last breakthrough of the day. Inglis and Carey batted through the remaining overs, adding an unbroken stand that took Australia into the lead. Inglis has so far faced 111 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes, while Carey’s patient 51 came from 126 deliveries.
South Africa will need early wickets on day three to prevent Australia from building a substantial lead. With four wickets down and five specialist batters still listed to come, the visitors have the opportunity to put pressure on the hosts, while Jansen’s milestone has added another landmark to a week in which his standing in Test cricket has risen sharply.
