South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs to win the series and go top of the Test rankings
Simon Harmer took 6-16 as Australia fell for 111 at Newlands, and Kagiso Rabada reached 350 Test wickets faster than anyone.
Cape Town — South Africa bowled Australia out for 111 on the final day at Newlands on Saturday to win the third Test by 176 runs and the series 2-1. The win lifts them above Australia to the top of the ICC men's Test rankings, for the first time since January 2016.
Set 288 to win, Australia were 42 for six and then 60 for seven at lunch. Nathan Lyon made 33 not out and shared a long ninth-wicket stand with Pat Cummins, but it only delayed the finish.
The match-winners
- Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-16 and finished with 10-120 in the match, the first 10-wicket haul of his Test career. "That is the stuff of dreams for a spinner," he said.
- Kagiso Rabada took 3-39, including two wickets in the first over of the chase. He also took his 350th Test wicket, reaching the mark in 13,808 balls, the quickest ever. Dale Steyn took 14,719.
- Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder made the win possible on day four. Their centuries and a stand of 154 turned a 100-run first-innings deficit into a target of 288.
Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa levelled in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.
"Within the first hour the game was away from us and we did not give ourselves a chance," Cummins said.
South Africa, who beat Australia at Lord's in the 2025 final, now look ahead to defending their World Test Championship title next year.
Source: Sky Sports, 31 October 2026.
