Proteas set Australia 288 at Newlands as the series comes down to the last day
Centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder turned a 100-run deficit into a shot at a series win.
Cape Town — South Africa go into the final day of the third Test at Newlands with a real chance of winning the series, after Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder scored centuries to set Australia 288 to win. The series is level at 1-1.
Trailing by 100 on first innings, the Proteas started day four on 140 for four and were bowled out for 387 with three balls left in the day. Rickelton made 101 and Mulder 115, sharing a sixth-wicket stand of 154. Mitchell Starc took 3-65.
The scores
- South Africa: 329 and 387.
- Australia: 429 (Josh Inglis 102, Alex Carey 80, Simon Harmer 4-104).
If Australia get there, it would be the second-highest successful chase in Newlands' history, behind their own 331 in 2002. Rough patches left by the bowlers are also giving the spinners some turn.
Rickelton and Mulder were at school together, and Rickelton's century ended in a run-out from a mix-up with his friend. "It was really special until he ran me out," he joked.
Source: Daily Maverick, 30 October 2026.
