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CAPE TOWN. — Dean Elgar scored a superb hundred but it was Pat Cummins who stole the late afternoon show as Australia fought back to have South Africa 266 for eight on day one of the third Test at Newlands yesterday.

The determined lefthander, who finished the day unbeaten on 121, went to his 11th century soon after he and AB de Villiers returned from the tea break and as the total progressed to 220 for two, the Proteas looked set for a sizeable first-innings total.

But enter Cummins and the right-arm Aussie quick rocked the South African middle order by producing a high-quality spell of four wickets for 12 runs in eight overs.

That reduced the Proteas to 236 for six, a collapse that nobody in the ground would ever have seen coming at that stage.

While Elgar stood firm it was the soft dismissal of AB de Villiers that kick-started the procession of South African wickets.

Bowling in his first over after tea, Cummins struck with the sixth delivery as De Villiers presented David Warner with the easiest of catches at extra cover.

De Villiers had been supreme for his 64 off 95 balls but will have been bitterly disappointed with the manner in which he gave his wicket away.

Only 14 runs later, Cummins sent Faf du Plessis packing for only five as he nipped one away from the South Africa captain for Steven Smith to take a good catch at slip. Du Plessis has only scored 35 runs in five innings against the Aussies so far. — MWP.