South Africa completed a 176-run victory over Australia at Newlands on Saturday to clinch the three-match Test series 2-1, as Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada dismantled the tourists’ chase.
Set 288, Australia were all out for 111 before tea. Two wickets fell in the first over of the final day, and the side slumped to 62 for eight before a late stand delayed the end. The result lifted South Africa above Australia to the top of the Test world rankings for the first time since January 2016.
Rabada’s early burst and the 350 mark
Australia’s hopes of chasing the total faded inside the opening half hour. Rabada finished with 3-39 and removed the top three, taking his Test tally to 350 wickets from 13,808 deliveries — fewer than fellow South African Dale Steyn (14,719) and Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (14,905).
Opener Matt Renshaw went for a duck, caught down the leg side by wicket-keeper Ryan Rickelton. Marnus Labuschagne was lbw for 4 in that same first over, and Travis Head fell caught at gully by Marco Jansen. First-innings centurion Josh Inglis was then run out for 4 attempting a quick single, leaving Australia in deep trouble.
Harmer’s six and a first 10-wicket haul
From there Harmer took the last six wickets, returning career-best figures of 6-16 and a first 10-wicket match haul in Tests with 10-120 overall. He said he focused on length, pace and trajectory: “It all worked out alright,” and called bowling with close fielders around the bat “the stuff of dreams for a spinner.”
Pat Cummins (11 off 90 balls) and Nathan Lyon (33 not out) added a ninth-wicket stand of 17.2 overs, but Harmer trapped Cummins lbw and bowled Josh Hazlewood to finish the match.
Cummins on the collapse and the road ahead
Australia had chosen to bowl on the opening morning and were left batting last on a wearing pitch, after another poor batting display. Captain Pat Cummins said once batters settled there were runs, but “within the first hour the game was away from us and we did not give ourselves a chance.” He added that his side came believing it was good enough to win away, “but we couldn’t do it.”
The series win also keeps South Africa’s bid to defend their World Test Championship title alive next year, after they beat Australia in the 2025 final at Lord’s.
Aasan alfaaz mein
South Africa ne Newlands par Australia ko 176 runs se hara kar series 2-1 jeet li. Australia 288 ka target le kar sirf 111 par all out ho gaye. Harmer ne 6 wickets liye aur Rabada 350 Test wickets tak pahunch gaye. Cricket fans ke liye yeh bari series jeet hai, aur South Africa ab Test rankings mein number one hain.
