Simon Harmer took a career-best 6 for 16 as South Africa bowled Australia out for 111 chasing 288, winning the third Test at Newlands by 176 runs. The result clinched the series 2-1 and lifted the Proteas above Australia at the top of the Test rankings.
Cape Town, South Africa: By lunch on the final day, Australia were 60 for 7 and the series was gone. Needing 288 to take it, they were bowled out for 111 as the decider turned into a procession.
Rabada opens the trapdoor
Australia resumed with Travis Head and Matt Renshaw at the crease and Kagiso Rabada with the new ball. His first over did the damage. Renshaw went for a golden duck, caught down the leg side by Ryan Rickelton, and Marnus Labuschagne was lbw for 4. Head lasted a little longer before Marco Jansen held a catch at gully for 14.
That dismissal was Rabada’s 350th Test wicket, and it came in 13,808 deliveries, fewer than Dale Steyn (14,719) or Waqar Younis (14,905) needed. Australia were 22 for 3, and Rabada finished with 3 for 39.
Harmer finishes the job
Josh Inglis was run out for 4 to make it 40 for 4, then Simon Harmer took over. Alex Carey was caught by Jansen, Cooper Connolly was caught behind by Rickelton for a duck, and Mitchell Starc fell caught and bowled without scoring after 25 balls. Australia were 60 for 7 at lunch.
Cameron Green, on 25 at the break, was bowled by Harmer for 27 soon after the restart. Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins then added 45 for the ninth wicket across 17.2 overs, the only real resistance of the day, before Cummins was lbw to Harmer for 11 off 90 balls, with the decision upheld on review. Josh Hazlewood was bowled by Harmer to end it, and Lyon was left unbeaten on 33. Harmer’s 6 for 16 gave him 10 for 120 in the match, after he took four wickets in Australia’s first innings.
How South Africa built the win
The series had swung twice already. Australia won the opener in Durban by 214 runs, and South Africa levelled in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs. At Newlands, Starc’s six-wicket haul on day one dismissed the hosts for 329, and Australia answered with 429, a 100-run lead built on Inglis’s 102, Carey’s 80, Renshaw’s 74 and Green’s 65.
South Africa’s second innings turned the match. Rickelton made 101 and Wiaan Mulder 115 in a 154-run sixth-wicket stand, and the hosts were bowled out for 387 to set the target of 288.
What it means
The win took South Africa above Australia at the top of the ICC Test rankings. Cummins acknowledged afterwards that South Africa had been the better side in the key moments. For Temba Bavuma’s side, the result capped a comeback from 1-0 down.
Result: South Africa 329 and 387 beat Australia 429 and 111 (target 288) by 176 runs at Newlands, Cape Town. South Africa won the three-match series 2-1.
Key performers: Simon Harmer 6 for 16 in the second innings (10 for 120 in the match); Kagiso Rabada 3 for 39 and his 350th Test wicket; Wiaan Mulder 115 and Ryan Rickelton 101 in the second innings; Nathan Lyon 33 not out for Australia.
