Day three snapshot of third cricket Test

* Score: South Africa 9(dec)-259 and 6-194 v Australia 383

* Man of the moment: Nathan Lyon. Battling to save his spot in the team - he probably would have been dropped if Steven O'Keefe didn't injure a calf muscle - the offspinner takes three of four wickets to fall in the final session to give Australia invaluable momentum.

* Key moment: Test newcomer Peter Handscomb takes a ripper catch at gully, diving low and to his left, and South African dangerman Faf du Plessis is out - the first of three Proteas wickets to fall for just 40 runs.

* Stat of the day: 70. The number of runs that South Africa lead by at stumps.

* Summary: South Africa's lead is slender entering day four and their hopes of setting a challenging run chase for Australia rest with stodgy opener Stephen Cook (81no) and the firepower of Quinton de Kock (0no). Sunday's first session will decide the result.

* Quote of the day: "Hopefully we can turn up tomorrow, get the last four wickets, and get batting." Lyon