It has been a thrilling first two sessions as Newlands.

After Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl, South Africa's opening batters Aiden Markram (78) and Marques Ackerman (95) put on 158 for the opening wicket and 203-1 when Mitchell Starc caught out Markram.

From there, it has been a mini-collapse from South Africa who are 221-4 at tea. Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke were dismissed for zero and two respectively.

We will take a brief break here and will be back for the start of the evening session.

Well, who would have thought this would be the case around an hour or so ago?

Three singles in that over take South Africa to 221-4 but with a lot of pressure on David Bedingham who goes into the break on 41 not out.

South Africa were 203-1 and quickly fell to 216-4.

Ryan Rickleton is the new man in for the hosts. Like Matthew Breetzke before him, he's off the mark fast.

A single each for both batters in that over after Breetzke's departure.

Cooper Connolly's opening ball of the over is blocked by Matthew Breetzke.

But Marnus Labuschagne and Connolly are adamant it has hit Breetzke's front pad first.

They are sending this upstairs...

Australia captain Pat Cummins has had a fairly expensive day, now on figures of 0-54 from 12 overs.

After five dot balls, David Bedingham crunches a textbook drive through the covers to end the other. Bedingham is nearing the 40s.

A first over of the day from Cooper Connolly in his second ever Test match.

Five runs come from it as Matthew Breetzke and David Bedingham rotate the strike well.

South Africa's current batting duo of Matthew Breetzke and David Bedingham have never been dismissed by off-break bowling in Test cricket.

Perhaps it is a good time to take Nathan Lyon out of the attack. He is replaced by the left-arm spin of Cooper Connolly.

Image source, Getty Images

Another quiet over for the scorers, consisting of a sole run.

That last wicket saw Nathan Lyon move up to 575 career Test wickets.

Josh Hazlewood restricts the home batters once more, claiming a maiden in the process.

After 200 runs in the first 43 overs at almost five an over, South Africa have scored just five runs in the last four.

David Bedingham is the set batter right now and after seeing two of South Africa's best in Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma fall quickly, he needs to stick around and cash in.

Matthew Breetzke is the main to join him and he is off the mark immediately.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is the new man in following Aiden Markram's departure.

He blocks the first two balls he faces as Josh Hazlewood pockets a wicket-maiden.

They are Bavuma's first two balls faced since that 179 in the second Test.

Australia are using their bowlers in short and sharp spells. Although their ability to take wickets has been the polar opposite.

It will be interesting to see if there is any temptation to throw one of their wildcard bowlers into the mix. Cam Green, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw spring to mind.

Two fours in three balls for David Bedingham takes South Africa past the 200 mark.

He's really striving into his groove now with the hosts only one wicket down.

A bit more control on offer from Australia's batters. David Bedingham adding just a single to proceedings.

South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma is waiting in the wings but will be grateful for this particularly long rest at the start of an innings.

Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has been posting on X today following this tough start to the day for the tourists.

He wrote "Ackerball" followed by a laughing emoji while Marques Ackerman was batting earlier on.

A pointed dig at his former teammates, perhaps?

The way in which South Africa have been scoring, a full day of batting could easily seem them put on 400+ before close.

Hoping to stop that happening is Mitchell Starc, who is 0-59 from 10 overs.