Australia took firm control of the day-night third test on Saturday when they reduced South Africa to 194 for six at the close on day three, only 70 runs ahead of their hosts.
Desperate for a consolation victory to avoid a first 3-0 series sweep on home soil, Australia’s tail boosted their first-innings tally to 383 before the bowlers took over.
Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla departed before tea and JP Duminy, captain Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Kyle Abbott followed under the lights in the night session.
Opener Stephen Cook was the one top-order batsman left standing after hitting 81 off 199 balls and will return to the crease on day four with Quinton de Kock, who had yet to score.
Paceman Mitchell Starc, removed Elgar for a duck with the fifth ball of the innings before taking the key wicket of Du Plessis for 12 courtesy of a brilliant catch by Peter Handscomb.
The home side celebrated with the debutant as if they had won the match, an indication of the importance they placed on the wicket of Du Plessis, who contributed an unbeaten 118 to South Africa’s first innings 259-9 declared. (Reuters/NAN)