Cape Town: South Africa completed a stunning series turnaround on Saturday, thrashing Australia by 176 runs on the final day of the third Test at Newlands to clinch the three-match series 2-1 and climb to the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time since January 2016.
Set 288 to win the match and the series, Australia were bowled out for 111 in just over two sessions, their chase wrecked first by Kagiso Rabada’s new-ball burst and then by Simon Harmer’s masterful off-spin. Rabada removed Matt Renshaw for a duck, Marnus Labuschagne for four and Travis Head for 14 to leave the tourists reeling at 22 for 3, and in doing so became the fastest bowler by balls bowled to reach 350 Test wickets, getting there in 13,808 deliveries.
From there Harmer took over. The veteran off-spinner claimed a career-best 6 for 16 from 21.1 overs — his maiden 10-wicket match haul, 10 for 120 — as Australia slid to 62 for 8. Captain Pat Cummins (11 from 90 balls) and Nathan Lyon (33 not out, the innings’ top scorer) delayed the inevitable with a ninth-wicket stand lasting 17.2 overs, but Harmer trapped Cummins lbw and then bowled Josh Hazlewood to seal the win shortly before tea.
The win was built on South Africa’s second-innings fightback. After conceding a 100-run first-innings lead — South Africa 329, Australia 429 — the hosts posted 387 in their second innings, with Wiaan Mulder’s 115 and Ryan Rickelton’s century setting Australia 288 to win.
The series result completes a remarkable comeback. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run win in Gqeberha, and have now sealed the decider in Cape Town. As the defending World Test Championship holders, South Africa’s rise to No. 1 keeps their title defence firmly on track, while Australia surrender the top ranking they held at the start of the series.
Read our Day 4 report here: https://t20star.com/mulders-115-and-rickeltons-ton-set-australia-288-to-win-as-newlands-decider-heads-to-a-final-day-shootout/
Brief scores: South Africa 329 and 387 beat Australia 429 and 111 (Nathan Lyon 33*; Simon Harmer 6-16, Kagiso Rabada 3-39) by 176 runs.
