South Africa achieved a landmark 176-run victory over Australia in the third Test at Newlands, clinching the three-match series 2-1 and reclaiming the No. 1 ICC Test ranking. The final day’s play began with all outcomes possible, but Australia’s chase of 288 runs collapsed rapidly as the hosts dominated the morning session. Having lost seven wickets in the morning, mitchell Starc survived 24 balls before popping a catch to short leg off the last ball of the morning session and Australia went to Lunch at 60/7. By Lunch, only one result was on the table. That belief, though, lasted three balls.
Kagiso Rabada, returning from illness, set the tone in the opening over. He dismissed the series’ leading run-scorer Matt Renshaw, who gloved a delivery down the leg side to Ryan Rickelton, and followed up three balls later by trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw. In his seventh over, Rabada secured his 350th Test wicket by inducing an edge from Travis Head, who was caught at gully by Marco Jansen. Rabada concluded with figures of 3 for 39. And Australia were reeling at 22 for 3 at the time, it was Rabada’s 350th Test wicket.
Simon Harmer took center stage from the 12th over, dismantling the Australian middle and lower order with precise turn from the rough. His spell included the vital scalp of Alex Carey, who was caught off a reverse sweep by Jansen, and the dismissal of Cooper Connolly. Harmer’s dominance was further underlined when he trapped Nathan Lyon lbw and bowled Josh Hazlewood, finishing with 6 for 16 across 21.1 overs, 14 of which were maidens. Harmer thus became the first South African spinner to claim a ten-wicket haul in a Test at Cape Town.
Australia’s misery was compounded by a run-out involving Josh Inglis, who departed for four. Despite a brief resistance from Cameron Green and Pat Cummins, who added 45 runs for the ninth wicket, the visitors could not overcome the pressure. Green was bowled by Harmer for 27 off 110 deliveries, and the innings ended at 111 all out within 57.1 overs. To make things worse, Josh Inglis was run out for four after a needless single to silly point. With 11 successive overs gone without a run, cameron Green and Pat Cummins then dug in. Green, on 27 off 110 balls, finally tried to break the shackles, dancing down to Harmer, and was bowled through the gate. Who made an unbeaten 33, before Harmer trapped him lbw, cummins batted 90 balls for 11 and added 45 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon.
The foundation for this series-defining win was laid on the fourth day, as centuries from Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton spearheaded a 154-run sixth-wicket partnership, pulling South Africa back from a precarious position. This defeat marks Australia’s first Test series loss since March 2023 and only the fourth time they have lost a three-match series after winning the opener. Consequently, New Zealand has ascended to the top of the World Test Championship standings, displacing Australia from the top two for the current cycle.
Brief scores: South Africa 329 and 387 beat Australia 429 and 111 by 176 runs. Brief scores: South Africa 329 (Marques Ackerman 95, Marco Jansen 52; Mitchell Starc 6-72) & 387 (Wiaan Mulder 115, Ryan Rickelton 101; Mitchell Starc 3-65) beat Australia 429 (Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80; Simon Harme. Brief scores: South Africa 329 (Marques Ackerman 95, Marco Jansen 52; Mitchell Starc 6-72) & 387 (Wiaan Mulder 115, Ryan Rickelton 101; Mitchell Starc 3-65) beat Australia 429 (Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80; Simon Harmer 4-104, Marco Jansen 3-60) & 111 (Nathan Lyon 33*; Simon Harmer 6-16, Kagiso Rabada 3-39) by 176 runs.
