South Africa achieved a commanding 176-run victory in the third Test against Australia at Newlands, a result that sealed a 2-1 series triumph and catapulted the hosts to the top of the ICC Test rankings. Faced with a target of 288 for victory, Australia were bundled out for just 111 runs on the final day as Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer dismantled the visiting lineup. Harmer came on in the 12th over and found sharp turn out of the rough straight away. By Lunch, only one result was on the table.
The collapse began immediately with Rabada, returning to the attack after missing time due to illness, striking twice in the opening over. He dismissed series-leading run-scorer Matt Renshaw caught behind and trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw. Rabada soon claimed his 350th Test wicket by removing Travis Head, who was caught at gully by Marco Jansen. The fast bowler finished 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 then dominated proceedings, taking 6 for 16 across 21.1 overs, 14 of which were maidens. Harmer became the first South African spinner to record a ten-wicket haul in a Test at Cape Town. His victims included Alex Carey, caught off a reverse sweep, and Cooper Connolly, dismissed behind the stumps. Amid the chaos, Josh Inglis was run out attempting a risky single, and the lower order provided little resistance. Harmer eventually cleaned up the tail by bowling Josh Hazlewood, sealing the match in 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.
The win was anchored by a resilient fourth-day performance from Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton. The pair stabilized the South African innings with centuries and a vital 154-run sixth-wicket partnership, allowing the hosts to set a defendable total. This defeat marked Australia’s first Test series loss since March 2023 and the fourth occasion they have squandered a 1-0 lead in a three-match series. Consequently, New Zealand has ascended to the top of the World Test Championship standings, displacing Australia from the top two. Australia must have begun the day believing they could chase this down. That belief, though, lasted three balls.
Final Scorecard: South Africa 329 (Marques Ackerman 95, Marco Jansen 52; Mitchell Starc 6-72) and 387 (Wiaan Mulder 115, Ryan Rickelton 101; Mitchell Starc 3-65) defeated Australia 429 (Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80; Simon Harmer 4-104, Marco Jansen 3-60) and 111 (Nathan Lyon 33 not out; Simon Harmer 6-16, Kagiso Rabada 3-39) by 176 runs. 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. 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.
