Kagiso Rabada: The ball got a lot softer. 50 to 60 over old ball. The sun is out, yesterday there was cloud cover. Hopefully, the sun will stay during the chase. We need partnerships and be positive, looking to go out there and chase the score. No two ways about it. Will be great if we could win. Lord's is a special place, have enjoyed bowling here. Would've loved a ten-for, but would rather not have it and win.

Chaitanya : "The Proteas have the pieces to play a more positive brand of cricket and keep the score ticking and it will be key for them to cash in when the pitch is conducive for batting"

JvS: "Interesting change of fortunes, on day 1 and 2, SA won the first session, then fell away a bit later in the day, will today be the reverse..."

The day so far has belonged to Australia. The conditions eased out for batting, with the sun out and sideways movement vanishing with the ageing ball. That was coupled with Starc being resolute alongside Josh Hazlewood after Lyon fell early. Rabada bowled through the first hour but got diminishing returns, Ngidi held his lengths and used change-ups but didn't get much assistance. There was one instance of the ball falling short of the slips cordon. Maharaj didn't get much turn. It allowed Starc to post his first Test fifty since 2019, talk about standing up to the occasion. A soft dismissal ended the innings but you'd think Australia would be the happier side. Can they make early inroads? Find out with Alex after the break.

From Namooh Shah: 2008 was the last time SA chased down a target of 250-plus (Target: 414) also against Australia at the WACA.

12:29pm, lunch, day 3: Score 63 and bat out the session, Australia would've taken that at the start of the day. They set South Africa a target of 282, which seems too high. Andrew Miller, though, reminds that was exactly the same in the Edgbaston Test during the 2005 Ashes.

Chris Thurston: "What this partnership also does is ensure that worse case scenario Australia will get a second new ball and a chance to bowl at South Africa tomorrrow. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but this partnership puts that on the table."

Leg slip now in with slip and short leg

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are only the second pair with three fifty-plus partnerships for the tenth wicket in Test cricket, after BJ Watling and Trent Boult.

Starc's first Test fifty in 45 Tests and 62 innings, informs Alex. Last one was Manchester 2019

mehedi hasan sh: ""Mitchell Starc is showing real grit--he's now faced the most balls among Aussie batters in this WTC final at Lord's and still going strong! Steve Smith's total 137 was class, but Starc's resilience is something else. Proper Test cricket vibes!""

Over the wicket. Sole slip and gully, both wide with a big gap in between. Deep square out, short leg in place

Akindu: "At what point does Cummins decide he has enough runs? Starc and Hazelwood will not be as effective if they're tired and they'll get even more tired the more they bat. " Don't think there'll be any such concerns in the next 30 minutes.

Markram now on with the lead at 270. Two left handers for the match-up. Starc near fifty, will he take him on?

If Australia are still 9 down at 12:30 play continues for 30 mins - so lunch at 13:00

KK: "Don't worry guys, this is SA strategy to tire out Starc and Hazewood. Will make batting easier against tired legs. 5D chess going on..."

Jansen's back on.

Fred: "@Tom, I predict the pitch will magically unflatten out when Starcy and the bois come on to bowl. " Yep, get a few clouds in too