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South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs to win Newlands Test and series 2-1; Harmer takes 6-16
South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in the third Test at Newlands on 31 October to win the series 2-1. Simon Harmer took a career-best 6 for 16, and 10 for 120 in the match, as Australia were bowled out for 111 chasing 288. South Africa replace Australia at the top of the Test rankings.
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South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October, to win the three-match series 2-1. Simon Harmer took a career-best 6 for 16 as Australia, set 288 to win, were bowled out for 111 on the final day. He took 10 for 120 in the match, his first ten-wicket haul in Tests, and was named player of the match. The result takes South Africa to the top of the ICC Test rankings, ahead of Australia.
The scores
| Innings | Score |
|---|---|
| Australia, first innings | 429 |
| South Africa, first innings | 329 |
| South Africa, second innings | 387 |
| Australia, second innings (target 288) | 111 |
Australia captain Pat Cummins chose to bowl first after winning the toss, a decision that had been made only 11 times before in Tests at Newlands since 1889, according to one report. Batting last on a wearing surface proved difficult.
How the match went
On day three Josh Inglis scored a century and shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 185 with Alex Carey, which gave Australia a first-innings lead of 100. Nathan Lyon then dismissed Temba Bavuma late in the day and South Africa were 140 for 4, a lead of just 40. South Africa recovered, with centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder in the second innings, which set Australia 288.
On the last day Australia collapsed on a turning pitch. Kagiso Rabada took 3 for 39, including two wickets in the first over, and Harmer took 6 for 16 from 21.1 overs. One report says that Australia were 60 for 7 at one stage. South Africa finished the job just before tea.
Australia lost the second Test by an innings and 31 runs, so they lost two in a row after winning the first. It is their first Test series defeat since March 2023, according to one report. South Africa replace Australia as the number one Test side.
Cummins said that it is fair to ask questions of his side after the two heavy defeats. 'We lost two games in a row,' he said, and the team would be asking the questions internally as well. He added that Australia need to get a little better to return to number one. One headline described the collapse as disgraceful.
Australia host New Zealand next. The reports found do not give the dates of that series, the next Test fixtures for South Africa, or the new points table in the World Test Championship.
The reports found do not give full batting scorecards for the match or the bowling figures of the other bowlers, and they do not detail how Australia lost their wickets in the final innings beyond Harmer's and Rabada's returns.
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