The former Australia captain took four catches to raise his career tally to 223, surpassing England’s Joe Root, who previously held the record with 220 catches. His outstanding fielding helped Australia dismiss South Africa for 284 in reply to the visitors’ first-innings total of 390.
Smith shines with four crucial catches
Smith’s record-breaking performance featured several outstanding moments of anticipation and athleticism.
He first moved sharply to his right to catch South Africa captain Temba Bavuma while the batter attempted a reverse sweep against Nathan Lyon’s spin. Smith then produced another sharp catch to dismiss Kyle Verreynne off Lyon.
His most spectacular effort came when he dived across first slip to catch David Bedingham off Pat Cummins. Bedingham had made 49 and was threatening to build a substantial innings before Smith’s intervention ended his resistance.
Smith completed his four-catch haul by taking the final wicket of South Africa’s innings off Beau Webster’s bowling, bringing the hosts’ total to 284.
Australia establish a 139-run lead
South Africa resumed the third day on 27-1, trailing Australia’s first innings by 363 runs. The hosts initially looked capable of making progress, with Aiden Markram and Bedingham attacking the Australian bowlers.
However, Australia struck back through a combination of disciplined bowling and Smith’s exceptional work in the slips. South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals, despite Markram’s 37 and Bedingham’s 49.
Tail-enders Simon Harmer, who finished unbeaten on 35, and Keshav Maharaj, who scored 34, added valuable runs late in the innings. Their resistance helped South Africa reach 284, but Australia still secured a first-innings lead of 106 runs.
Cummins led the Australian attack with three wickets for 54 runs, while Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Lyon claimed two wickets each.
Australia extend advantage before bad light
Australia began their second innings looking to build a commanding lead. Nic Maddinson and Travis Head negotiated the remaining overs without losing a wicket, taking the visitors to 33 without loss when bad light stopped play.
Maddinson was unbeaten on 17, while Head had scored 10. Australia’s overall lead stood at 139 runs, with two days of scheduled play remaining.
Bad light had interrupted all three days of the match, prompting officials to schedule additional playing time for the remaining sessions.
Smith’s record adds to Australia’s advantage
Smith’s achievement was a major individual milestone in a match that Australia had increasingly brought under their control.
The 37-year-old’s record also marked a contrast with his previous Test appearance in South Africa in 2018, when he was Australia’s captain during the ball-tampering scandal that resulted in a one-year ban.
This time, his contribution came through exceptional fielding as Australia sought to put the reigning world champions under pressure in the opening match of the series.
South Africa face a difficult task to recover, while Australia will aim to turn their advantage into a position from which they can push for victory on the final two days.