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After his 33-ball duck on day one, Maddinson got off the mark with a hook shot for four off Marco Jansen on the first ball of the tourists\u2019 second innings.<\/p>\n
The two left-handers raced out of the blocks to add to Australia\u2019s advantage as Maddinson also slashed a boundary over backward point in the opening over.<\/p>\n
Head got in on the act with a lofted boundary over the leg side off Wiaan Mulder as well as crunching Jansen through the covers to the fence.<\/p>\n
The end of the day\u2019s play was sealed when Maddinson flicked Mulder for six over square leg but boundary rider Ryan Rickelton failed to pick up the ball as it sailed over the rope.<\/p>\n
TALKING PTS: Tricky Cummins scenario emerges as vintage Aussie display adds to greats\u2019 legacy<\/a><\/p>\n Australia’s Nic Maddinson plays a high ball on day three of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/Themba Hadebe)Source: AP<\/p>\n Earlier, the wickets were shared among Australia\u2019s champion bowling attack – Pat Cummins (3\/54), Josh Hazlewood (2\/54), Nathan Lyon (2\/58) and \ufeffMitchell Starc (2\/63) – to establish a 106-run first innings lead.<\/p>\n While not to the extent of centurion Matt Renshaw and the Australian tail, South Africa\u2019s bowlers fought admirably with the bat, adding 87 runs for the final two wickets.<\/p>\n During the middle session, captain Cummins\u2019 short ball ploy undid both Mulder (30) and Tristan Stubbs (32), while Lyon has Smith to thank for both of his wickets due to his remarkably anticipation of the reverse sweep at slip.<\/p>\n Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (13) was the second South African to be undone by Smith\u2019s brilliance with captain Temba Bavuma (3 off 27) also caught out by the champion Australian batter spotting the reverse sweep early, shuffling to his right and taking a fine catch.<\/p>\n Verreynne could perhaps feel a little more hard done by as Smith\u2019s catch to dismiss him was undoubtedly the pick of the pair.<\/p>\n The 37-year-old took a one-handed screamer to his right that former Zimbabwean cricketer Pommy Mbangwa said was \u201cout of this world\u201d, while follow commentator Mark Howard bellowed that Smith\u2019s classic was \u201cfrom another planet\u201d.<\/p>\n Even Smith\u2019s teammates were in disbelief at the latest catch to be added to his ever-expanding slip fielding highlight reel and former South African great Shaun Pollock said Lyon owes Smith \u201ca few beers\u201d for his efforts.<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018OH MY GOD, SMUDGE\u2019: Smith\u2019s ridiculous catch sparks disbelief as Aussie breaks Test record<\/a><\/p>\n Steve Smith of Australia celebrates the catch once again this time for Kyle Verreynne (WK) of The Proteas during day 3 of the 1st Dafabet Test match between South Africa and Australia at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Gerhard Duraan\/Gallo Images\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Mulder will not be wanting to watch any replays, however, as he was caught in two minds against a Cummins short ball and tamely offered a simple catch to substitute fielder Cooper Connolly at square leg.<\/p>\n Stubbs was then bounced out in Cummins\u2019 next over as Josh Hazlewood completed a nice catch coming forward at fine leg.<\/p>\n Hazlewood got in on the act later in the session when he ended Marco Jansen\u2019s (26 off 20) counter-attacking effort when the towering No.8 spooned a catch to Travis Head, who unleashed a mighty fist pump in celebration, at mid off.<\/p>\n Spinners Keshav Maharaj (34) and Simon Harmer (35*) then provided some rearguard action, steering the hosts through to tea as Cummins through the ball to Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who bowled his leg spin rather than his medium pace, to provide some overs of part-time tweak before the break.<\/p>\n Their 52-run partnership was broken early in the evening session, however, as Maharaj chipped a simple catch to Cummins at mid off to give Starc his second wicket.<\/p>\n But Harmer carried on, adding 35 valuable runs with No.11 Anrich Nortje (16), including tucking into Beau Webster\u2019s medium pace with a six over mid-wicket, a lofted four over wide mid off and a cut to the boundary in consecutive deliveries.<\/p>\n Webster (1\/23) eventually broke the stand with Nortje edging to Smith at slip for his fourth catch of the innings.<\/p>\n In the first session, Starc triggered a mini-collapse of 3\/15 with the crucial wicket of Australia\u2019s World Test Championship final nemesis Aiden Markram (37) thanks to a nice catch from first innings centurion Matt Renshaw at first slip shortly before drinks.<\/p>\n Markram\u2019s demise ended a dangerous 84-run partnership between opener and Proteas\u2019 No.3 David Bedingham (49), and from then on it was the Smith show.<\/p>\n The Australians did an excellent job of tying down Temba Bavuma, whose patience ran out when he attempted to reverse sweep Lyon.<\/p>\n Smith saw the shot coming from slip, however, and in an incredible act of anticipation, shuffled to his right to snaffle a catch to level Joe Root on the all-time leading Test catchers list.<\/p>\n Three overs later Smith reclaimed top spot from the England captain with his 221st Test catch, flying from second slip in front of Renshaw to send Bedingham on his way one run shy of a half-century and to give Australian captain Pat Cummins his first wicket.<\/p>\n BLINDER! Smith reclaims catching record | 01:51<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s storied pace attack dismissed a member of South Africa\u2019s top three apiece with Hazlewood getting opener Ryan Rickelton for a third-ball duck late on day two as the visiting quicks were relentless in their line and length.<\/p>\n