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Live cricket scores: Australia face big day as batters get chance to stand up

Mitchell Starc blitzed the Proteas tail late on day one to give his batting line-up the perfect chance to shine on day two. But can they make it count? Follow the action with our live blog.

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Aaron Kirby
The West Australian
Mitchell Starc's devastating bowling performance has brought Australia back into contention in the deciding third test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Mitchell Starc blitzed the Proteas tail late on day one to give his batting line-up the perfect chance to shine on day two.

But can they make it count?

Follow the action with our live blog.

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Aaron Kirby is reporting live.

50 partnership

Head climbs into a square drive off the back foot and then ramps a straight bouncer straight over the keeper for back-to-back boundaries.

It brings up the 50-run partnership for the Aussies.

AUS 0-50

Mulder’s turn

Bavuma has turned to Mulder but without movement, he may struggle.

He bowls very well when the ball swings but at the moment Renshaw is getting right across at him.

AUS 0-42

Ouch

Renshaw ducked into a Rabada bouncer and copped it in the shoulder.

He shrugs it off but that will leave a very nice bruise.

Coetzee is into the attack for the first time.

AUS 0-32

Proteas problem

This is becoming a small issue for South Africa.

They are bowling far to short.

They have not given the ball a chance to swing and we’ve seen no movement at all.

They have had to put a deep point out for Head to stop the boundaries and he is using it to get cheap, risk-free singles.

He also times it better when he knows it’s only going to be a single anyway.

AUS 0-27

Calm start

Australia will be happy with the quiet start here.

Anything wide is going to the rope but otherwise, Renshaw and Head have been smart.

The crowd is very quiet which is a win.

AUS 0-25

Square up

Jansen squares Renshaw up but the edge runs away for four backward of point.

The South Africans have been a touch too short so far but the Aussies have been leaving well.

AUS 0-11

Top start

Jansen challenges both edges in his first over but Renshaw sees it through.

Head will get his first ball now and gets off the mark with a chunky inside edge out to square leg.

AUS 0-7

Away we go!

Rabada had four balls over the wicket before switching to around.

But he floats up a juicy full toss and Renshaw cashes in with a boundary.

He then rotates the strike.

AUS 0-5

Players ready

The teams are out in the middle and we are about to get underway.

Rabada will open the bowling with Head and Renshaw to face the music.

Smith fallout

Reports have emerged the Aussies were not happy when Steve Smith decided to rule himself out with a neck injury before play yesterday.

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