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.

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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 man 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 that tactic hasn't helped them take wickets.

It will be interesting to see if there is any temptation to throw one of their secondary bowlers into the mix. Cam Green, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw are waiting in the wings.

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

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

A bit more control on offer from Australia's bowlers, with David Bedingham adding just a single to his side's total.

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.

Tidy stuff from Nathan Lyon as Aiden Markram and David Bedingham muster a single each.

That brings up the afternoon drinks break.

South Africa have not been dealing in too many boundaries since Marques Ackerman's dismissal.

But they are still scoring and both Aiden Markram and David Bedingham are playing with control and calm.

The hosts are closing in on 200 as Nathan Lyon continues his work.

South Africa's rate of scoring has dropped since lunch, but they are still going at just shy of five an over in this innings.

The hosts have scored nicely and continued to build and Australia have not done enough with the ball to give them much to worry about.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma will be given a luxury when he comes into bat next at some point today.

At Gqeberha, he went out to the middle at 12-2 prior to producing his best ever Test knock of 179.

In the first Test, was in at 84-2 and 73-2, so he's going to get the best part of 100 runs on top of that as a bare minimum.

Five singles and start the over before Mitchell Starc produces a no ball.

The extra delivery is punished for four by David Bedingham, a 10-run over for the hosts.

David Bedingham has not been as free-scoring as Marques Ackerman was, but his two scoring shots have been excellent.

His latest four is a straight punch past the feet of Josh Hazlewood, running away to the rope.

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Just one more single added to the total.

A penny for the thoughts of Marques Ackerman, who probably feels he's missed out on a Test century. Especially given the nature of his dismissal.